99. ADAPTANGO PERFORMANCE PROCESS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH REHABILITATION

Abstract

Introduction

While dance has proved to be a more effective movement therapy than other exercise-based controls such as walking and aerobics, the interpersonal and creative impact of dance-based movement therapy for people with Parkinson’s Disease needs to be studied more. Intergenerational interventions engaging members across different age groups can reduce ageism, and intergenerational conversations about challenging topics often lead to greater mutual understanding between generations. APPROACH explores themes such as community building and justice as perceived by people with Parkinson’s and younger individuals before and after partnered choreography processes.  We will describe the interactions occurring during a three-month choreographic process and will define the impact of the instructor/older adult/young adult co-experience.  We aim to explore the thoughts, attitudes and perceptions of older (aged 60 plus years) and younger adults (aged 18-30 years) regarding challenging topics before and after engaging in an ADAPTANGO course.

Methods

Twenty dyads of people with Parkinson’s and younger adults will participate in a three-month choreographic workshop. Prior to choreography, participants will complete extensive baseline cognitive and creative testing. They will also complete self-reported measures focused on loneliness and quality of life. During the tenth choreographic class, participants will be interviewed to gain qualitative feedback about the extent to which APPROACH classes have impacted their well-being and their engagement intergenerational relationships.

Results

On the psychosocial level, we expect intergenerational bonding to occur that will quantitatively reduce depression and loneliness.

Based on prior work, we expect improved spatial cognition in PWP.

We expect creativity to increase across verbal, written and visual fields in younger and older adults.

Conclusions

Dance provides access to unique learning strategies that promote neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to change because of experiences—to mitigate, and perhaps even heal, PD. Dance’s therapeutic potential has been the subject of numerous clinical studies over the last decade, and deserves consideration as a non-pharmacological intervention to improve PD patient health outcomes, especially in an intergenerational context.