In a new study, researchers examined how dancing to music affectsvarious symptoms of Parkinson's diseaseeffects. The results suggest that such movements can help combat physical and psychological problems associated with the disease. According to the study authors, this may help develop long-term rehabilitation programs to help people manage the disease.
Prevention of Parkinson's symptoms by dancing to music
Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that negatively affects physical activity. Symptoms usually start gradually and get worse over time. Affected individuals may experience tremors, stiffness, and difficulty walking, balance, and coordination in the early stages. As the disease progresses, problems with speaking, memory and fatigue can also occur. Recently, researchers conducted a study to see how weekly dance training affects long-term motor and non-motor skillsSymptoms of Parkinson's affect. The research team recruited 16 people with an average age of 69 years who had mild symptoms of Parkinson's. The participants attended weekly dance courses lasting 1.25 hours over 3 years between 2014 and 2017. The dance group saw significant improvements compared to those in the non-dance group. In the former, neither movement nor psychological symptoms worsened during the study.
According to the study authors, dance training can have similar effects to high-intensity training sessions (HIIT). Previous research has shown that HIIT can increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the blood. This is a protein that may have protective effects against neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. In addition, dancing to music can activate parts of the brain that are responsible for motor skills. The researchers added that socialization, support and group dynamics during class may also have had a positive impact on psychological factors. The authorsthis studyconclude that dancing to music may be of great benefit as an adjunct to existing treatment regimens for Parkinson's disease.
