Pilot Testing of Tone Dance: A Culturally Adapted Group-Based Physical Activity Program for Older Adults With...

Older adults with subjective cognitive decline often show reduced physical activity (PA) increasing the risk of cognitive impairment. This study sought to pilot test and examine the effects of a culturally adapted, group-based, moderate-intensity PA (Tone Dance) program on daily PA, cognitive lapses, and cognitive functioning in older adults.

A quasi-experimental study was conducted among older adults with subjective cognitive decline. Participants were allocated to an experimental group (n = 32), which completed a 7-week (14 sessions) Tone Dance intervention and a control group (n = 32) receiving usual care. Feasibility included recruitment, participation, and retention rates; adverse events; participant satisfaction; and program delivery competency. Preliminary outcomes were assessed: daily PA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), cognitive lapses (Cognitive Failures Questionnaire), and cognitive functioning (Montreal Cognitive Assessment). Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze feasibility outcomes. Between-group preliminary outcome differences were analyzed using independent t-tests.

No dropout and no adverse events were reported. Participant satisfaction ranged from 3.56 ± 0.51 to 4.00. Interventionists achieved program delivery competency scores ≥80%. Postintervention, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in daily PA and reductions in cognitive lapses compared with the control group (p < .05). No statistically significant differences in cognitive functioning were found between groups (p > .05).

Culturally adapted, group-based PA interventions such as this program promote increased daily PA and reduced cognitive lapses in older adults.

Nurses and community health practitioners can implement such programs to assist older adults in achieving recommended PA levels.