Dance Reduces Depression in Parkinson’s Disease
Dance Lifts Spirits adn Mood for Parkinson’s Patients,Study Finds
New research reveals the powerful impact of dance on depression in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research shows that dance can substantially reduce depression symptoms in people living with Parkinson’s disease. The research, conducted by York University scientists, provides compelling evidence of dance’s positive effects on both brain activity and self-reported mood.
“It was incredibly exciting to see dance having a positive effect on the mood circuits in the brain, which we could clearly observe through brain imaging,” says Joseph DeSouza, an associate professor at York University’s Faculty of Health and a lead author of the study. “These improvements seen on MRI scans were also reflected in the participants’ own reports of feeling better. This is the first study to demonstrate these benefits using both these methods.”
the study followed 23 participants enrolled in the Sharing Dance Parkinson program at Canada’s National Ballet School, all diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. A control group of 11 healthy individuals, mostly family members or caregivers of those with Parkinson’s, also participated. Over eight months, participants attended weekly dance classes that progressed from basic movements to more complex choreography, including waltzes and interpretive dances.
researchers focused on the subcallosal cingulate gyrus (SCG), a brain region linked to depression in previous studies. They measured mood and depression levels in all participants using the Geriatric Depression Scale before and after each class and conducted regular MRI scans at York University.
“We essentially showed that SCG BOLD [blood oxygen level–dependent] signal decreases while dancing over time,” explains Karolina Bearss, a professor at Algoma university and another lead author of the study. “This means the SCG was not functioning as actively as it would in someone experiencing depression.”
parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. A prodromal phase, lasting 2 to 10 years, frequently enough precedes diagnosis and is characterized by low mood, even before motor symptoms like tremors appear.
This research builds on previous work by Bearss and DeSouza, which found that dance training improves motor control, mood, and daily living functions in people with Parkinson’s.
Dance is believed to offer a dual benefit: music activates the brain’s reward centers, while movement stimulates sensory and motor circuits. DeSouza, who has been dancing with program participants for 14 years, emphasizes that while dance is not a cure for Parkinson’s, its benefits are undeniable.”We’re not trying to cure Parkinson’s with dance,” says DeSouza, who is also affiliated with the Center for Vision Research and Connected Minds at York. “Our goal is to help people with Parkinson’s live a better quality of life.This applies to both those with the disease and their families who care for them – they also experience the benefits of feeling better.”
The study, “Impact of Weekly Community-Based dance Training Over 8 Months on Depression and Blood Oxygen level–Dependent Signals in the Subcallosal Cingulate Gyrus for People With Parkinson Disease: Observational Study,” is available in the open-access Journal of Medical Internet Research.
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