A new study out of York University, recently featured in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, reveals that dance can play a significant role in easing depression among individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
This groundbreaking research demonstrates that participating in dance not only boosts participants’ moods but also leads to observable changes in brain function.
Study Overview
Joseph DeSouza, an associate professor in the Faculty of Health and one of the study’s authors, remarked on the study’s promising findings.
He noted that neuroimaging revealed how dance positively impacts the brain’s mood-regulation circuits—a connection that the study uniquely confirms through both brain scans and participants’ feedback.
The research involved 23 participants from the Sharing Dance Parkinson’s program at Canada’s National Ballet School, all diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
In addition, 11 healthy individuals—mostly family members or caregivers of those affected—joined the study.
Over a span of eight months, these participants attended weekly dance classes, starting with simple movements and gradually progressing to more intricate choreographies.
Key Findings
DeSouza collaborated with former York PhD students Karolina Bearss and Rebecca Barnstaple, as well as Rachel Bar, who now directs research and health initiatives at Canada’s National Ballet School.
Their focus centered on the subcallosal cingulate gyrus (SCG), a brain region known for its links to depression.
Before and after each dance class, participants completed the Geriatric Depression Scale to assess mood and depression levels.
Additionally, they underwent regular MRI scans at York University.
The results were revealing: after each dance session, participants consistently reported lower levels of depression, with even more significant improvements noted at the conclusion of the eight-month duration.
MRI scans demonstrated reduced activity in areas of the frontal cortex that regulate emotions.
Notably, in a smaller subset of participants, decreases in depression scores correlated with alterations in the SCG.
Implications for Parkinson’s Patients
Bearss pointed out that as participants engaged in dance over time, there was a gradual decline in the blood oxygen level-dependent signal in the SCG, suggesting a reduction in its hyperactive state, which is often associated with depression.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that sometimes starts with a prodromal phase lasting from two to ten years.
During this phase, individuals may experience low mood even before they show physical symptoms such as tremors or motor control challenges.
Bearss highlighted that people with Parkinson’s deal with numerous difficulties that extend beyond just motor symptoms, including considerable mental health issues, with depression being a major concern.
This study builds on earlier work by Bearss and DeSouza, which identified that dance can positively impact motor control as well as overall mood in individuals with Parkinson’s.
DeSouza explained that dance provides a unique dual benefit.
While the music stimulates the brain’s reward pathways, the physical movements engage the sensory and motor systems necessary for coordination.
He clarified that while dance is not a standalone cure for Parkinson’s, the benefits to participants’ quality of life are evident.
The aim of this research isn’t to cure Parkinson’s disease but to enhance the overall experience of those living with the condition and their caregivers.
Source: ScienceDaily