Cognitive, Affective, and Motor Effects of Tangotherapy in Parkinson's Disease

NCT05904171 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 25C304
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Neuroscientific research has shown a close relationship between physical fitness and cognition, showing a positive effect of physical activity (e.g., aerobic activity) on the maintenance of psycho-cognitive well-being in the elderly. In particular, dancing seems to be very effective, as it involves both motor and multisensory aspects (touch, sight, hearing, proprioception), stimulating memory, motor learning and social interaction. In fact, dance increases sensory-motor skills and cognitive performance in the neurologically healthy elderly. Dance-based therapeutic approaches, in particular Argentine tango, have also been implemented in the context of neurodegenerative pathologies, including Parkinson's disease (PD) where motor (i.e., tremors, postural instability, motor slowdown) and cognitive difficulties (e.g., executive deficits) may coexist. Most of these studies have so far demonstrated a significant improvement in balance and a reduction in motor symptoms, while evidence regarding cognitive and emotional benefits brought about by dance remains limited. When investigated, cognitive benefits have often been evaluated at the level of global cognition (i.e., screening tests), without a detailed characterization of the effects of tango on cognitive and affective functioning (e.g., executive functions, social cognition, depressive symptoms), central aspects in Parkinson's disease.

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Keywords

Parkinson's Disease; Argentine Tango; Dance Therapy; Cognition

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

• Change in Parkinson's Disease Cognitive Rating Scale (PD-CRS) - total score

  A battery of cognitive tests of memory, selective attention, visuo-spatial skills, and flexibility.

  At the beginning of the treatment, at the end of the treatment (i.e., after 6 weeks), and at 45 days follow-up

• Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) - total score

  A scale assessing depressive and anxiety symptoms.

  At the beginning of the treatment, at the end of the treatment (i.e., after 6 weeks), and at 45 days follow-up

• Change in Health-related quality of Life (EQ-5D-5L) - total score

  A questionnaire about quality of life in different health-related domains.

  At the beginning of the treatment, at the end of the treatment (i.e., after 6 weeks), and at 45 days follow-up

• Change in Stroop Task - reading time

  A test assessing cognitive inhibition.

  At the beginning of the treatment, at the end of the treatment (i.e., after 6 weeks), and at 45 days follow-up

• Change in 6 minutes walking Test (6MWT) - Distance Walked

  A test assessing walking performance; i.e., distance walked in 6 minutes.

  At the beginning of the treatment, at the end of the treatment (i.e., after 6 weeks), and at 45 days follow-up

• Change in Timed Up and Go (TUG) test - Execution Time

  A test used to assess a person's mobility.

  At the beginning of the treatment, at the end of the treatment (i.e., after 6 weeks), and at 45 days follow-up

• Change in 10 meters walking test (10mWT) - Execution Time

  A test assessing walking performance.

  At the beginning of the treatment, at the end of the treatment (i.e., after 6 weeks), and at 45 days follow-up

Study Arms (2)

Tangotherapy

EXPERIMENTAL

2 hours of group-based Tangotherapy, weekly, for 6 weeks

Behavioral: Tangotherapy

Physical Activity

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

2 hours of group-based physical activity, weekly, for 6 weeks

Behavioral: Physical activity

Interventions

Tangotherapy BEHAVIORAL

Learning and practicing a series of moves - both individual and with a partner - taken from Argentine Tango, according to the Riabilitango (R) approach. The training is aimed at improving both physical (e.g., balance, change of direction, coordination, endurance) and cognitive (i.e., learning, divided attention, inhibition, planning) domains, in a pleasant, enjoyable, and inclusive environment. This group-based training will take place twice a week (1h each session), for 6 weeks.

Tangotherapy

Physical activity BEHAVIORAL

Walking and stretching in group twice a week (1h each session), for 6 weeks.

Physical Activity

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Clinical diagnosis of mild-moderate Parkinson's Disease (modified Hoehn\&Yahr Scale 1-3)

You may not qualify if:

• Having attended Argentine Tango classes in the past year;
• Having attended Physical Therapy rehabilitation in the past month;
• Other neurological diseases (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumors)
• Dementia
• Any clinical condition not compatible with physical activity
• Deep Brain Stimulation of infusion pumps implants

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istituto Auxologico Italiano: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS

Milan, Lombardy, 20122, Italy

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Carvalho A, Rea IM, Parimon T, Cusack BJ. Physical activity and cognitive function in individuals over 60 years of age: a systematic review. Clin Interv Aging. 2014 Apr 12;9:661-82. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S55520. eCollection 2014.

  PMID: 24748784 BACKGROUND

• Kattenstroth JC, Kalisch T, Holt S, Tegenthoff M, Dinse HR. Six months of dance intervention enhances postural, sensorimotor, and cognitive performance in elderly without affecting cardio-respiratory functions. Front Aging Neurosci. 2013 Feb 26;5:5. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2013.00005. eCollection 2013.

  PMID: 23447455 BACKGROUND

• Kattenstroth JC, Kolankowska I, Kalisch T, Dinse HR. Superior sensory, motor, and cognitive performance in elderly individuals with multi-year dancing activities. Front Aging Neurosci. 2010 Jul 21;2:31. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2010.00031. eCollection 2010.

  PMID: 20725636 BACKGROUND

• Ismail SR, Lee SWH, Merom D, Megat Kamaruddin PSN, Chong MS, Ong T, Lai NM. Evidence of disease severity, cognitive and physical outcomes of dance interventions for persons with Parkinson's Disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Geriatr. 2021 Sep 22;21(1):503. doi: 10.1186/s12877-021-02446-w.

  PMID: 34551722 BACKGROUND

• Duncan RP, Earhart GM. Randomized controlled trial of community-based dancing to modify disease progression in Parkinson disease. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2012 Feb;26(2):132-43. doi: 10.1177/1545968311421614. Epub 2011 Sep 29.

  PMID: 21959675 BACKGROUND

• Rios Romenets S, Anang J, Fereshtehnejad SM, Pelletier A, Postuma R. Tango for treatment of motor and non-motor manifestations in Parkinson's disease: a randomized control study. Complement Ther Med. 2015 Apr;23(2):175-84. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2015.01.015. Epub 2015 Feb 9.

  PMID: 25847555 BACKGROUND

• Caronni A, Amadei M, Diana L, Sangalli G, Scarano S, Perucca L, Rota V, Bolognini N. In Parkinson's disease, dual-tasking reduces gait smoothness during the straight-walking and turning-while-walking phases of the Timed Up and Go test. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Mar 7;17(1):42. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01068-8.

  PMID: 40055732 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Nadia Bolognini, PhD

  Laboratorio di Neuropsicologia, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 25, 2023
• First Posted: June 15, 2023
• Study Start: February 20, 2023
• Primary Completion: May 9, 2025
• Study Completion: May 9, 2025
• Last Updated: September 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

IT (1)