Preliminary Effects of a Seated Dance and Reminiscence Intervention on Veterans with Dementia

Dance and reminiscence have each demonstrated positive outcomes in adults with dementia, yet few studies have examined their combined effects on apathy, particularly older male veterans. This pilot study investigated the preliminary effects of a seated dance with reminiscence intervention on apathy, mood, engagement, and physiological outcomes in older male veterans in a long-term care community. Fifteen males with dementia (82 ± 5 years) participated in a 12-week intervention of 17 seated dance sessions incorporating reminiscence. Apathy, grip strength, body fat percentage, and body mass index (BMI) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Mood and engagement were assessed pre- and post-session. Apathy significantly decreased from pre- to post-intervention, below the clinical cutoff of 42 (d = 2.20). Mood improved from pre- to post-session, with a higher mood associated with higher engagement. Grip strength improved significantly pre- to post-intervention (p = 0.018, d = 0.73), with nonsignificant changes in body fat percentage and BMI. In this single-group pilot study, seated dance combined with reminiscence was associated with preliminary improvement in apathy, mood, engagement and grip strength. Larger, controlled studies are needed to determine efficacy.