Introduction:
Dance is a multimodal experience, integrating movement and music, with cognitive and psychosocial effects, potentially providing a non-pharmacological care approach for persons with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). While numerous studies have investigated motor outcomes following dance interventions, less is known about the degree to which cognitive and non-motor outcomes are explored. The objective of this scoping review was to explore the scope and characteristics of dance-based interventions for PD, focusing on how cognitive and non-motor domains are represented relative to motor outcomes.
Methods:
Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological framework for scoping reviews, the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant literature, followed by title, abstract, and full text screening by three independent reviewers. Studies reporting the effects of dance on motor, non-motor, or cognitive health of PwPD were included. Data were extracted on study and intervention characteristics, as well as outcome domains and measurement tools.
Results:
Thirty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The most used interventions were tango and Dance for Parkinson’s Disease (DfPD) programs, typically delivered in community settings, twice weekly, for approximately 60 minutes per session. Motor symptoms were assessed most frequently (89%), followed by non-motor (76%) and cognitive domains (47%). Collectively, non-motor and cognitive outcomes were increasingly assessed within the last decade.
Conclusion:
While cognitive and non-motor symptoms contribute significantly to disease burden, motor outcomes continue to dominate dance-based literature in PD. Future research should continue to explore symptomatology beyond motor outcomes within dance-based literature in PD.
