Page 22 - Petelin, Ana, and Šarabon, Nejc. 2018. Eds. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Znanstvena monografija / Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 22
avje starostnikov | health of the elderly 22 Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a slow-advancing neurodegenerative disease
that starts because of unknown factors, although it is believed to involve
both genetic and environmental factors. It is the second most common
disease behind Alzheimer’s, and there are more than 7000 patients with PD
and other parkinsonisms in Slovenia (Trepetlika, 2018). The most afflicted are
people over 60 years old, recent studies also confirm that men are under great-
er risk (Elbaza et al., 2016). Clinical picture includes tremors, rigidity, bradyki-
nesia and loss of balance (Mesec, 1995). There are more than 40 symptoms of
the disease, including non-motor symptoms such as depression, apathy, tired-
ness and dementia. (Trepetlika, 2018). All of these influence the patient’s qual-
ity of life.
There are more and more confirmed cases that physical exercise slows
down or decreases motoric complications. Animal tests have shown that ex-
ercises encourage the synthesis of dopamine in other dopaminergic neurons,
which in turn decreases the symptoms of the disease (Sutoo, Akiyama, 2003).
Research also shows that physical exercise slows down the symptoms of PD
and if it is introduced in early phase of the disease, it can slow down its prog-
ress (Fox et al., 2006).
National Parkinson Foundation (2016) recommends that PD patients
perform stretching exercises, aerobic activities and strength training. Dance,
as one of the recommended exercises, has appeared as a therapy in 1950 and
is now used to improve cognitive, emotional and motor functions and for so-
cial networking (Premelč, 2016). Dance can be effective in balance and walk-
ing problems as well as decreasing psychological problems, improving cogni-
tive functions, motor functions and quality of life in patients with PD (Lewis
et al., 2014; Hashimoto et al., 2015). The popular opinion is that dance can have
a great psychological impact because of the challenges that are presented with
dance steps and timing. Some of the challenges are memory, learning and spa-
tial awareness (Lewis et al., 2014).
Westheimer et al. (2015) found that a sound signal with a uniform rhythm
(from music or metronome) helps people with PD walk synchronously with
rhythm, and lines drawn on the floor help to improve the length of the steps
and reduce the sliding steps. Dhami et al. (2015) believe that rhythmic music in
dance could contribute to activation of neurons for motor control and increase
in blood flow to the regions of hippocampus and frontal, temporal and parietal
lobe regions. This could consequently facilitate neuroplasticity and improve
movement, balance, and cognitive abilities.
Research has shown greater progress and longer lasting effects in the
group where dance therapy was performed than in the group that carried out
only physiotherapy exercises. (Hashimoto et al., 2015; De Natale et al., 2017).
Some studies of patients with PD report cognitive impairment in as much
as 30-70 % of patients. The most impaired abilities are: the working memory,
response inhibition, planning, organization and control of the goal targeted
that starts because of unknown factors, although it is believed to involve
both genetic and environmental factors. It is the second most common
disease behind Alzheimer’s, and there are more than 7000 patients with PD
and other parkinsonisms in Slovenia (Trepetlika, 2018). The most afflicted are
people over 60 years old, recent studies also confirm that men are under great-
er risk (Elbaza et al., 2016). Clinical picture includes tremors, rigidity, bradyki-
nesia and loss of balance (Mesec, 1995). There are more than 40 symptoms of
the disease, including non-motor symptoms such as depression, apathy, tired-
ness and dementia. (Trepetlika, 2018). All of these influence the patient’s qual-
ity of life.
There are more and more confirmed cases that physical exercise slows
down or decreases motoric complications. Animal tests have shown that ex-
ercises encourage the synthesis of dopamine in other dopaminergic neurons,
which in turn decreases the symptoms of the disease (Sutoo, Akiyama, 2003).
Research also shows that physical exercise slows down the symptoms of PD
and if it is introduced in early phase of the disease, it can slow down its prog-
ress (Fox et al., 2006).
National Parkinson Foundation (2016) recommends that PD patients
perform stretching exercises, aerobic activities and strength training. Dance,
as one of the recommended exercises, has appeared as a therapy in 1950 and
is now used to improve cognitive, emotional and motor functions and for so-
cial networking (Premelč, 2016). Dance can be effective in balance and walk-
ing problems as well as decreasing psychological problems, improving cogni-
tive functions, motor functions and quality of life in patients with PD (Lewis
et al., 2014; Hashimoto et al., 2015). The popular opinion is that dance can have
a great psychological impact because of the challenges that are presented with
dance steps and timing. Some of the challenges are memory, learning and spa-
tial awareness (Lewis et al., 2014).
Westheimer et al. (2015) found that a sound signal with a uniform rhythm
(from music or metronome) helps people with PD walk synchronously with
rhythm, and lines drawn on the floor help to improve the length of the steps
and reduce the sliding steps. Dhami et al. (2015) believe that rhythmic music in
dance could contribute to activation of neurons for motor control and increase
in blood flow to the regions of hippocampus and frontal, temporal and parietal
lobe regions. This could consequently facilitate neuroplasticity and improve
movement, balance, and cognitive abilities.
Research has shown greater progress and longer lasting effects in the
group where dance therapy was performed than in the group that carried out
only physiotherapy exercises. (Hashimoto et al., 2015; De Natale et al., 2017).
Some studies of patients with PD report cognitive impairment in as much
as 30-70 % of patients. The most impaired abilities are: the working memory,
response inhibition, planning, organization and control of the goal targeted
