Greek Traditional Dances: A Way to Support Intellectual, Psychological, and Motor Functions in Senior Citizens at Risk of Neurodegeneration
One of the major problems that elderly people are facing is dementia. For scientist’s dementia is a medical, social and economic problem, as it has been characterized as the epidemic of the 21st century. Prevention and treatment in the initial stages of dementia are essential, and community awarenes...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00006/full |
| _version_ | 1828410890498605056 |
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| author | Styliani Douka Vasiliki I. Zilidou Vasiliki I. Zilidou Olympia Lilou Magda Tsolaki |
| author_facet | Styliani Douka Vasiliki I. Zilidou Vasiliki I. Zilidou Olympia Lilou Magda Tsolaki |
| author_sort | Styliani Douka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | One of the major problems that elderly people are facing is dementia. For scientist’s dementia is a medical, social and economic problem, as it has been characterized as the epidemic of the 21st century. Prevention and treatment in the initial stages of dementia are essential, and community awareness and specialization of health professionals are required, with the aim of early and valid diagnosis of the disease. Activities are recommended to the senior citizens to improve their physical and mental health. Dance has been suggested as an appropriate recreational activity for the elderly that brings functional adjustments to the various systems of the body, psychological benefits, and makes exercise to seem interesting and entertaining as it combines the performance of multiple animations with musical accompaniment. A Greek traditional dance program was performed where our sample consisted of 30 healthy elderly and 30 with Mild Cognitive Impairment – MCI. It lasted 24 weeks, two times a week for 60 min. Specific traditional dances from all over Greece were selected. The dances were of a moderate intensity at the beginning with a gradual increase in intensity, according to the age and physical abilities of the participants. The results showed a significant improvement in: attention (S4viac-Healthy: z = -3.085, p = 0.002; MCI: z = -3.695, p < 0.001, S4viti-Healthy: z = -2.800, p = 0.005; MCI: z = -3.538, p < 0.001), anxiety (Healthy: z = -2.042, p = 0.041; MCI: z = -2.168, p = 0.030), verbal fluency for MCI (Verflx: t = -2.396, df = 29, p = 0.023, Verfls: t = -3.619, df = 29, p = 0.001, Verfmo: t = -3.295, df = 29, p = 0.003) and in executive functions (FUCAS: z = –2.168, p = 0.030). Significant improvement also showed in physical condition (Arm curl– Healthy: z = –3.253, p = 0.001; MCI: z = -3.308, p = 0.001, Chair stand – Healthy: t = –3.232, df = 29, p = 0.003; MCI: t = -2.242, df = 29, p = 0.033, Back scratch– Healthy: z = -1.946, p = 0.052; MCI: z = -2.845, p = 0.004, 2 min step– Healthy: z = –2.325, p = 0.020; MCI: z = -2.625, p = 0.009, FootUpandGo– Healthy: z = -4.289, p < 0.001; MCI: z = -3.137, p = 0.002, Sit and Reach: z = -3.082, p = 0.002, Balance on One leg: z = -3.301, p = 0.001) and Quality of life (Healthy: z = -1.937, p = 0.053; MCI: z = -2.130, p = 0.033). This study proves that dancing not only improves the cognitive and physical condition of the elderly but also contributes to a better quality of life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T12:19:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d66eb8d3f97043f2b1ce10d2873f0fe1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1663-4365 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T12:19:47Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-d66eb8d3f97043f2b1ce10d2873f0fe12022-12-22T01:49:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience1663-43652019-01-011110.3389/fnagi.2019.00006408415Greek Traditional Dances: A Way to Support Intellectual, Psychological, and Motor Functions in Senior Citizens at Risk of NeurodegenerationStyliani Douka0Vasiliki I. Zilidou1Vasiliki I. Zilidou2Olympia Lilou3Magda Tsolaki4Laboratory of Sports, Tourism and Recreation Management, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Sports, Tourism and Recreation Management, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Medical Physics, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Sports, Tourism and Recreation Management, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Neurology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GreeceOne of the major problems that elderly people are facing is dementia. For scientist’s dementia is a medical, social and economic problem, as it has been characterized as the epidemic of the 21st century. Prevention and treatment in the initial stages of dementia are essential, and community awareness and specialization of health professionals are required, with the aim of early and valid diagnosis of the disease. Activities are recommended to the senior citizens to improve their physical and mental health. Dance has been suggested as an appropriate recreational activity for the elderly that brings functional adjustments to the various systems of the body, psychological benefits, and makes exercise to seem interesting and entertaining as it combines the performance of multiple animations with musical accompaniment. A Greek traditional dance program was performed where our sample consisted of 30 healthy elderly and 30 with Mild Cognitive Impairment – MCI. It lasted 24 weeks, two times a week for 60 min. Specific traditional dances from all over Greece were selected. The dances were of a moderate intensity at the beginning with a gradual increase in intensity, according to the age and physical abilities of the participants. The results showed a significant improvement in: attention (S4viac-Healthy: z = -3.085, p = 0.002; MCI: z = -3.695, p < 0.001, S4viti-Healthy: z = -2.800, p = 0.005; MCI: z = -3.538, p < 0.001), anxiety (Healthy: z = -2.042, p = 0.041; MCI: z = -2.168, p = 0.030), verbal fluency for MCI (Verflx: t = -2.396, df = 29, p = 0.023, Verfls: t = -3.619, df = 29, p = 0.001, Verfmo: t = -3.295, df = 29, p = 0.003) and in executive functions (FUCAS: z = –2.168, p = 0.030). Significant improvement also showed in physical condition (Arm curl– Healthy: z = –3.253, p = 0.001; MCI: z = -3.308, p = 0.001, Chair stand – Healthy: t = –3.232, df = 29, p = 0.003; MCI: t = -2.242, df = 29, p = 0.033, Back scratch– Healthy: z = -1.946, p = 0.052; MCI: z = -2.845, p = 0.004, 2 min step– Healthy: z = –2.325, p = 0.020; MCI: z = -2.625, p = 0.009, FootUpandGo– Healthy: z = -4.289, p < 0.001; MCI: z = -3.137, p = 0.002, Sit and Reach: z = -3.082, p = 0.002, Balance on One leg: z = -3.301, p = 0.001) and Quality of life (Healthy: z = -1.937, p = 0.053; MCI: z = -2.130, p = 0.033). This study proves that dancing not only improves the cognitive and physical condition of the elderly but also contributes to a better quality of life.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00006/fullGreek traditional dancesdementiaquality of lifephysical healthmental health |
| spellingShingle | Styliani Douka Vasiliki I. Zilidou Vasiliki I. Zilidou Olympia Lilou Magda Tsolaki Greek Traditional Dances: A Way to Support Intellectual, Psychological, and Motor Functions in Senior Citizens at Risk of Neurodegeneration Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience Greek traditional dances dementia quality of life physical health mental health |
| title | Greek Traditional Dances: A Way to Support Intellectual, Psychological, and Motor Functions in Senior Citizens at Risk of Neurodegeneration |
| title_full | Greek Traditional Dances: A Way to Support Intellectual, Psychological, and Motor Functions in Senior Citizens at Risk of Neurodegeneration |
| title_fullStr | Greek Traditional Dances: A Way to Support Intellectual, Psychological, and Motor Functions in Senior Citizens at Risk of Neurodegeneration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Greek Traditional Dances: A Way to Support Intellectual, Psychological, and Motor Functions in Senior Citizens at Risk of Neurodegeneration |
| title_short | Greek Traditional Dances: A Way to Support Intellectual, Psychological, and Motor Functions in Senior Citizens at Risk of Neurodegeneration |
| title_sort | greek traditional dances a way to support intellectual psychological and motor functions in senior citizens at risk of neurodegeneration |
| topic | Greek traditional dances dementia quality of life physical health mental health |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00006/full |
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