Dancing helps against dementia

Controlled exercise such as dancing or eurythmy help dementia patients

08/19/2014

The gait can provide important indications of developing dementia, reports the German Society for Geriatrics (DGG) in its current press release. So far, changes in the gait, a sinking fitness, falls and other motor problems usually „simply considered a sign of frailty“ Service. Here, however, new research would reveal surprising relationships with emerging dementia. Through movement exercises like „Tai Chi, dancing and the piano-accompanied Dalcroze rhythm - also known as eurythmy“ let the motoric restrictions be counteracted.

„For gait analysis using a carpet that uses sensors to record the smallest deviations between the steps, it became clear that the greater the deviations, the higher the fall risk for the patient in the coming months“, so the communication of the DGG. „In addition, if the patient had to solve cognitive tasks at the same time as the study, the likelihood that the person had dementia was higher“, reports the association.

Use motor changes for diagnosis?
„Not only does the brain perform intellectually, it also controls motor processes“, explains Professor dr. Reto Werner Kressig, chief physician for geriatrics at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Basel, in the DGG press release. Therefore, the neurodegenerative disease also affects the motor function of those affected. Professor Kressig believes that this effect can be used to improve diagnostics. „I am of the opinion that not only brain performance should be measured for early dementia detection, but also motor changes should be investigated“, the DGG quotes the experts. „A look at the patient's gait may provide clues even earlier than the usual procedures. Although this does not prevent dementia, it slows down its course“, so Kressig.

Tai Chi, dancing and eurythmy
According to Professor Kressig, motion is particularly beneficial for positively influencing the course of dementia. The head of the University Center for Gerontology at the University Hospital and the Felix Platter Hospital in Basel explains that tai chi, dancing and eurythmy are particularly suitable here. „It is about spontaneous reactions and good body control“, so Kressig on. According to the experts, the patients often participate enthusiastically in the movement exercises. Even lying patients would register for the courses, which according to Kressig in Basel meanwhile are offered in all retirement homes.„It's amazing how even critically ill patients enjoy moving to the music“, the DGG quotes the specialist.

50 percent fewer crashes
The effect of movement exercises on the motor limitations in dementia patients is quite remarkable, according to the expert. A recent study has shown that the risk of falls fell by 50 percent when patients attended the course once a week for six months, reports the specialist. Here Kressig sees promising approaches for the treatment of dementia patients. „We have to rethink the therapy“, stresses Kressig in the DGG communication and adds: „It's not about the magic pill, but about helping people with special movement control.“ At the Geriatric Congress of the German Society for Geriatrics (DGG) and the German Society for Gerontology and Geriatrics (DGGG) in September, Professor Kressig will be the speaker under the title „Lint-free with head and foot - New approaches to fall prevention“ report on the successes with the various exercise exercises in dementia patients. (Fp)