Dance Workshop for Institutionalized Seniors With Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

NCT ID: NCT05799001

Last Updated: 2025-08-07

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 180 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-03-08
• Study Completion Date: 2026-07-31

Brief Summary

It is estimated that the prevalence of dementia in France is 5% for people over 65 years of age and that this increases to 18% for people over 75 years of age. Behavioral disorders are frequent in patients with dementia and are the main cause of institutionalization, representing up to 50% of cases. Dementia syndromes can be translated into behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which are defined as perceptual, mood or behavioral disorders. To date, there is no cure for dementia, but certain measures can be taken to reduce symptoms. The HAS suggests that physical exercise would reduce BPSD and could improve the ability to perform activities of daily living or slow down the cognitive decline of this type of patient. Indeed, several articles have highlighted the benefits of physical activity in demented patients. A meta-analysis has shown a significant decrease in BPSD via the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) score. Nevertheless, it is often observed that there is a difficulty in adhering to the program in very elderly population groups. Dance is a complete physical activity that integrates physical, cognitive and social elements. A meta-analysis has shown that dance has a significant effect on global cognition but also on neuroplasticity and physical functioning in patients with mental disorders. The music component of dance also has an effect on the behavioral problems of demented patients, stimulating language ability and social and emotional function.

However, at present, no study of good methodological quality has been able to demonstrate the effectiveness of dance-based physical activity for the treatment of dementia symptoms. As a result of these findings, the APAISE project was developed and should help slow the onset of BPSD in patients with dementia.

Conditions

Dementia

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

experimental

4 months of dance workshop with a Professional dance teacher

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Dance therapy

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Patients will be randomized in 2 groups, experimental or control.

The experimental group will have 4 months of dance therapy with a professional dancer and will then resume there usual activities.

The control group will start with their usual activities in the nursing home for the first 4 months and then, they will have dance sessions with a nurse previously trained by the dancer.

Control

First, patients will have usual activities for 4 months and in a second time, they will have 4 months of dance class with a nurse previously trained by the dance teacher

Group Type: OTHER

Dance therapy

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Patients will be randomized in 2 groups, experimental or control.

The experimental group will have 4 months of dance therapy with a professional dancer and will then resume there usual activities.

The control group will start with their usual activities in the nursing home for the first 4 months and then, they will have dance sessions with a nurse previously trained by the dancer.

Interventions

Dance therapy

Patients will be randomized in 2 groups, experimental or control.

The experimental group will have 4 months of dance therapy with a professional dancer and will then resume there usual activities.

The control group will start with their usual activities in the nursing home for the first 4 months and then, they will have dance sessions with a nurse previously trained by the dancer.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Institutionalized patient (male or female) over 65 years of age ;

2. Patient with behavioral problems, as measured by an NPI-ES ≥ 4 on any item and an NPI-ES impact scale ≥ 3 ;

3. Patient able to mobilize the upper body at a minimum (arms, trunk, head);

4. Medication (antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics and related hypnotics) without major modification for at least 30 days prior to inclusion after medical advice;

5. Possibility of including patients under guardianship or curatorship;

6. Patient affiliated to a social security plan;

7. Obtaining consent from the patient or legal representative.

Exclusion Criteria

8. Inability of the patient to follow the sessions (e.g., major visual/auditory disabilities), difficult follow-up, or any other reason at the discretion of the investigator;

9. Inability of the health care team to complete the NPI-ES questionnaire for the patient;

10. Patient has a concurrent psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other).

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Centre Hospitalier Emile Roux

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Centre Hospitalier Pays Craponne

Craponne-sur-Arzon, , France

Site Status: RECRUITING

Centre Hospitalier Emile Roux

Le Puy-en-Velay, , France

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

France

Central Contacts

Cécile CHAPPUIS

Role: CONTACT

cecile.chappuis@ch-lepuy.fr

0471041545

Lauriane SEDES, PhD

Role: CONTACT

lauriane.sedes@ch-lepuy.fr

0471043127

Facility Contacts

Sophie LENGAGNE

Role: primary

sophie.lengagne@ch-lepuy.fr

0471053526

Cécile CHAPPUIS

Role: primary

04 71 04 35 38

Other Identifiers

2022-A02335-38

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

RIPH2_CHAPPUIS_APAISE

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id