Abstract
As an intermediate state between normal aging and dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), especially amnestic MCI (aMCI), is a key stage in the prevention and intervention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Whether dancing could increase the hippocampal volume of seniors with aMCI remains debatable. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of aerobic dance on hippocampal volume and cognition after 3 months of aerobic dance in older adults with aMCI. In this randomized controlled trial, 68 elderly people with aMCI were randomized to either the aerobic dance group or the control group using a 1:1 allocation ratio. Ultimately, 62 of 68 participants completed this study, and the MRI data of 54 participants were included. A specially designed aerobic dance routine was performed by the dance group three times per week for 3 months, and all participants received monthly healthcare education after inclusion. MRI with a 3.0T MRI scanner and cognitive assessments were performed before and after intervention. High-resolution three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted anatomical images were acquired for the analysis of hippocampal volume. A total of 35 participants (mean age: 71.51 ± 6.62 years) were randomized into the aerobic dance group and 33 participants (mean age: 69.82 ± 7.74 years) into the control group. A multiple linear regression model was used to detect the association between intervention and the difference of hippocampal volumes as well as the change of cognitive scores at baseline and after 3 months. The intervention group showed greater right hippocampal volume (β [95% CI]: 0.379 [0.117, 0.488], p = 0.002) and total hippocampal volume (β [95% CI]: 0.344 [0.082, 0.446], p = 0.005) compared to the control group. No significant association of age or gender was found with unilateral or global hippocampal volume. There was a correlation between episodic memory and intervention, as the intervention group showed a higher Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Logical Memory (WMS-RLM) score (β [95% CI]: 0.326 [1.005, 6.773], p = 0.009). Furthermore, an increase in age may cause a decrease in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score (β [95% CI]: −0.366 [−0.151, −0.034], p = 0.002). In conclusion, 3 months of aerobic dance could increase the right and total hippocampal volumes and improve episodic memory in elderly persons with aMCI.Clinical Trial Registration: This study was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry [www.chictr.org.cn], identifier [ChiCTR-INR-15007420].
Highlights
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to the transitional stage between normal aging and probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
A pair of studies showed that aerobic exercise could increase hippocampal volume in younger adults (Frodl et al, 2020) and people with MCI, while another study revealed that dance-related cognitive improvement was not dependent on hippocampal atrophy in mixed seniors with normal cognition and MCI (Kropacova et al, 2019)
Whether dancing could increase the hippocampal volume in patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI) remains debatable, so we aimed to explore the change in hippocampal volume in patients with aMCI after aerobic dance intervention with a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial
Summary
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to the transitional stage between normal aging and probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD) In this stage, a person has impaired cognitive function unlike normal age-related cognitive decline, but it is not severe enough to cause significant impairment in the activities of daily life (Petersen et al, 1997). A person has impaired cognitive function unlike normal age-related cognitive decline, but it is not severe enough to cause significant impairment in the activities of daily life (Petersen et al, 1997) Those with amnestic MCI (aMCI), a subtype of MCI, are 4–10 times more likely to progress to AD than healthy elderly people (Petersen et al, 2001; Bischkopf et al, 2002; Grundman et al, 2004). Whether dancing could increase the hippocampal volume in patients with aMCI remains debatable, so we aimed to explore the change in hippocampal volume in patients with aMCI after aerobic dance intervention with a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial
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