Introduction: Cardiorespiratory fitness is a mediator of brain plasticity and cognition. Current research indicates that improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with enhanced cognition and reduced brain atrophy. In previous studies we have shown positive effects of dance training on cognition in healthy adults. In this study we investigated the effects of dance training in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: In a randomized, controlled trial we investigate the effects of a sportive dance intervention (N=25; age = 70 ± 5.5; female = 16) in comparison to an inactive control group (N=20; age = 67 ± 6.6; female = 10) on cardiorespiratory fitness (spiroergometry) and cognition (CERAD-Plus). The dance intervention consisted of a six-month lasting program with two dance interventions per week lasting up to 60 minutes and increasingly difficult choreographies.

Results: After 6-month dance intervention we found significant improvements in cognition (memory, attention) and non-significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness in the intervention group while the inactive control group showed significant decreases in cognition and cardiorespiratory fitness. A post-hoc analysis showed that higher increases in cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with higher improvements in cognition.

Discussion: Our results demonstrate that sportive dancing training can improve cognition and cardiorespiratory fitness in older patients with MCI. Because cardiorespiratory fitness and cognition are predictors of quality of life, these results could impact autonomy and independence of patients with MCI.