Researchers from Wake Forest University received a $1.5 million grant from the NIH to conduct a 3-year clinical trial on the effect of improvisational dance for dementia.

“Cognitive impairment and memory loss are among the main symptoms that bring older adults into the doctor’s office, but there are a lot of secondary symptoms that go along with them that really affect quality of life not only for the person with dementia, but also for their caregiver,” study researcher Christina E. Hugenschmidt, PhD, of Wake Forest University, said in a press release. “In addition, changes in gait and balance can result in falls, which is one of main reasons people with cognitive impairment are admitted to the hospital.”