Tango-Therapy Intervention for Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment Living in Nursing Homes: Effects on Quality of Life, Physical Abilities and Gait

Lucía Bracco (), Clara Cornaro, Arrate Pinto-Carral, Sabine C. Koch and France Mourey
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Lucía Bracco: Inserm U1093-Cognition, Action and Sensorimotor Plasticity, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Burgundy, 21078 Dijon, France
Clara Cornaro: Research Institute for Creative Arts Therapies (RIArT), Alanus University of Arts and Social Science, 53347 Alfter, Germany
Arrate Pinto-Carral: SALBIS Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing and Physiotherapy Department, Universidad de León, 24401 Ponferrada, Spain
Sabine C. Koch: Research Institute for Creative Arts Therapies (RIArT), Alanus University of Arts and Social Science, 53347 Alfter, Germany
France Mourey: Inserm U1093-Cognition, Action and Sensorimotor Plasticity, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Burgundy, 21078 Dijon, France

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: Cognitive impairment in older adults is associated with poor gait performance, physical decline, falls and poor quality of life. This paper analyzes the feasibility and efficacy of tango-based intervention in older people living in nursing homes with and without cognitive impairment. A multicenter study, with pre- and post-test, was carried out. Intervention attendance, well-being, physical abilities (short physical performance battery), walking performance, functional capacities (Katz Index) and quality of life (quality of life in Alzheimer’s disease) were assessed. Fifty-four participants (84.9 ± 6.7 years, mini mental state examination 14.5 ± 7.4) completed the protocol. Intervention attendance was 92%, and the mean subjective well-being after each session was 4.5 ± 0.5 (on a five-point scale). A statistically significant improvement was found in the quality of life ( p = 0.030). Non-statistically significant changes were found in walking performance ( p = 0.159), physical abilities ( p = 0.876) and in functional capacities ( p = 0.253). This study shows feasibility and suggests evidence for the effects of tango therapy on well-being and quality of life. Further studies are necessary to contrast these findings and to support the role of tango interventions as a holistic approach to prevent functional decline in older people with cognitive impairment.

Keywords: older adults; cognitive impairment; tango therapy; quality of life; well-being; physical performance; walking performances; abilities of daily living; dance movement therapy; arts with therapeutic intent (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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