Open AccessThe effects of the BAILAMOS Dance Program on hippocampal volume in older Latinos: a randomized controlled pilot study
Author(s) -
Jacqueline Guzman,
Susan Aguiñaga,
Guilherme Moraes Balbim,
Melissa Lamar,
Isabela G. Marques,
David X. Márquez
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
translational behavioral medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1869-6716
pISSN - 1613-9860
DOI - 10.1093/tbm/ibab009
Subject(s) - hippocampal formation , dance , randomized controlled trial , psychology , physical therapy , medicine , psychological intervention , cognition , gerontology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , audiology , neuroscience , psychiatry , art , literature
Hippocampal atrophy is associated with cognitive decline. Physical activity (PA) can reverse the hippocampal loss. This study investigated the effects of the 4 month BAILAMOS dance program on hippocampal volume and self-reported PA in Latinos. Participants were randomized to the BAILAMOS dance program or waitlist control group (N = 14, n = 10 intervention, n = 4 waitlist, 67 ± 6.1 years old, 70% female). Hippocampal volumes were derived from Magnetic Resonance Imaging whole-brain T1-weighted images. Participants self-reported PA through the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors Physical Activity Questionnaire for older adults. There were no statistically significant changes in hippocampal volume preintervention to postintervention (F[1, 8] = .077, p = .79, d = .05) and no associations between PA change and hippocampal volume (F[4, 13] = .71, p = .61). However, dance participants self-reported more PA (d = .54) compared to the control. These findings demonstrate that the BAILAMOS dance program did not decrease hippocampal atrophy; however, it increased self-reported PA. Future studies should include longer and more cognitively demanding interventions to determine whether dance can reduce cognitive decline through hippocampal changes.