Sensor-Based Assessment of Groove Music and Sports Dance on Cognitive–Emotional and Neuromuscular Functions in Older Adults

Global population aging has created an urgent need for effective interventions to mitigate cognitive-emotional decline in older adults. Given the limitations of pharmacological treatments and cognitive-behavioral therapy in terms of adherence and side effects, this study explores the potential of non-pharmacological approaches through a randomized controlled trial. Seventy-eight older adults (60-75 years) were assigned to one of three groups: groove music + sports dance (GODA), conventional music + sports dance (CODA), or a control group (CON). Over 12 weeks, participants engaged in three 60-min sessions weekly, each featuring a 45-min core training block. All interventions were delivered at a target low-intensity level (RPE 11-13, 'somewhat hard'), with real-time RPE spot-checks confirming that between-group differences never exceeded 1 unit, thereby ensuring consistent exertion levels. Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured emotional regulation, executive function, neuromuscular coherence (β/γ-band sEMG), and prefrontal connectivity (fNIRS). Under low-intensity conditions, GODA significantly improved emotional regulation and executive functions-including working memory and planning-compared to CODA and CON. Furthermore, GODA participants exhibited increased neuromuscular coherence in β/γ-bands and enhanced mPFC-lPFC connectivity, which correlated with improved sensorimotor integration. In contrast, high-intensity interventions showed no group differences. These findings indicate that groove music combined with sports dance improves cognitive-emotional function and neuromuscular coordination in older adults, particularly during complex movements. The rhythm-driven benefits of GODA support its clinical utility as a feasible non-pharmacologic intervention to mitigate age-related cognitive-emotional impairments.