COMPARING THE EFFECTS OF IMPROVISATION AND CHOREOGRAPHY ON OLDER ADULTS WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Q: How were participants assigned to improvisational vs. choreographic dance groups?

Twenty older adults with MCI were randomized into the improvisational dance (ID) group or the choreographic dance (CD) group.

Q: What assessments were used to measure cognitive and well-being outcomes?

Attention, memory, and creativity were assessed before and after the interventions, and Positive Well-Being surveys were completed before and after multiple classes. Focus-group interviews, survey answers, and observations supported qualitative analysis.

Q: Which group showed better improvements in creativity and long-term positive well-being?

The ID group showed a significant improvement in creativity, with greater gains than the CD group. Both groups improved short-term positive well-being, but only the CD group demonstrated significant long-term improvement over the ten-week period.

Sep 29, 2026

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Mixed-methods study evaluated how improvisational dance and choreographic dance influence cognition and positive well-being in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Twenty participants were randomized to improvisational dance (ID) or choreographic dance (CD) with two one-hour sessions weekly for 10 weeks. Attention, memory, and creativity were assessed pre/post, alongside Positive Well-Being surveys after specified classes, using quantitative measures plus focus-group interviews and observations. Results showed ID improved creativity and both groups increased short-term positive well-being, while CD demonstrated stronger long-term gains.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Study Design and Methods

Quantitative Measures

Qualitative Methods

Results and Key Findings

Creativity and Attention

Well-Being Outcomes

806 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Yunjia Yang, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States This mixed-methods study compared the impact of improvisation and choreography on the cognition and well-being of older adults with MCI. Methods: 20 participants with MCI were randomized into either the Improvisational Dance (ID) or Choreographic Dance (CD) group. Each group had two one-hour interventions per week for 10 weeks. Quantitative assessments on attention, memory, and creativity were done before and after the interventions. Participants completed the Positive Well-Being survey before and after the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th classes. Qualitative methods included focus group interviews, survey answers, and observations. Results: The ID group showed a significant improvement in creativity (p = .05), with greater gains compared to the CD group (p < .05) . Both groups experienced a significant increase in short-term positive well-being after the 1-hour class (p < .001); however, only the CD group demonstrated significant long-term improvement over ten weeks (p < .05). Even though quantitative data did not show a statistically significant difference, mixed data showed the CD group presented a positive indication of improving attention/reaction time, visual-spatial short-term memory, physical benefits, and self-efficacy than the ID group. The ID group showed a positive indication of promoting social interaction and personal expression compared to the BP group. Qualitative results showed that self-efficacy, emotional engagement, expression, and social interactions contribute to Positive Well-being. Semi-structured improvisation in the ID group is key to promoting creativity. Remembering and repeating the movements with timing in the CD group are the potential key factors for improving attention, reaction time, and memory. Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2734 COMPARING THE EFFECTS OF IMPROVISATION AND CHOREOGRAPHY ON OLDER ADULTS WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

FAQs

How were participants assigned to improvisational vs. choreographic dance groups?

Twenty older adults with MCI were randomized into the improvisational dance (ID) group or the choreographic dance (CD) group.

What assessments were used to measure cognitive and well-being outcomes?

Attention, memory, and creativity were assessed before and after the interventions, and Positive Well-Being surveys were completed before and after multiple classes. Focus-group interviews, survey answers, and observations supported qualitative analysis.

Which group showed better improvements in creativity and long-term positive well-being?

The ID group showed a significant improvement in creativity, with greater gains than the CD group. Both groups improved short-term positive well-being, but only the CD group demonstrated significant long-term improvement over the ten-week period.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by WPS_1786070896