Effects of a structured dance program in Parkinson's disease. A Greek pilot study

Is dancing an effective intervention for fat loss? A systematic review and meta-analysis of dance interventions on body composition

OBJECTIVE

The systematic review aimed to review the research on the effects of dance interventions, relative to normal lifestyles, on body composition in people with overweight and obesity.

METHODS

7 databases were searched from their inception to 3 July 2023 for studies with dance interventions and normal lifestyles groups. Only studies investigating dance interventions in people with overweight and obesity(body mass index (BMI)>24kg/m2 and percent fat mass (Fat(%)) abnormal(male>20%, female>25%)) were included in the meta-analysis. There were no restrictions on dance forms.

RESULTS

654 studies were identified from the databases, and 10 studies were evaluated to be eligible. The meta-analysis revealed that compared to normal lifestyles dance had meaningful improvements in body mass(BM), BMI, waist circumference(WC), Fat(%), and fat mass(Fat(kg)). No significant differences were found in the waist-to-hip ratio(WHR).

CONCLUSIONS

Dance is effective on fat loss in people with overweight and obesity, and has a significant improvement on body composition and morphology. For its high efficiency and greater sense of enjoyment, dance can be a beneficial exercise intervention for fat loss.

Alleviating Stress in Parkinson's Disease: Symptomatic Treatment, Disease Modification, or Both?

Psychological stress, a state of mental strain caused by mentally or physically threatening situations, plays a significant role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Motor symptoms worsen during acute stress and common non-motor symptoms in PD, such as anxiety and depression, are linked to chronic stress. Although evidence in humans is lacking, animal models of PD suggest that chronic stress can accelerate dopaminergic cell death. This suggests that stress-reducing interventions have not only symptomatic, but perhaps also disease-modifying effects. Our objective was to identify the most promising strategies for stress-reduction in PD and to analyze their potential value for disease-modification. An unstructured literature search was performed, primarily focusing on papers published between 2020-2023. Several large clinical trials have tested the efficacy of aerobic exercise and mindfulness-based interventions on PD symptoms. The evidence is promising, but not definitive yet: some exercise trials found a reduction in stress-related symptoms, whereas others did not or did not report it. In the majority of trials, biological measures of stress and of disease progression are missing. Furthermore, follow-up periods were generally too short to measure disease-modifying effects. Hence, mechanisms underlying the intervention effects remain largely unclear. These effects may consist of attenuating progressive neurodegeneration (measured with MRI-markers of substantia nigra integrity or cortical thickness), or a strengthening of compensatory cerebral mechanisms (measured with functional neuroimaging), or both. Lifestyle interventions are effective for alleviating stress-related symptoms in PD. They hold potential for exerting disease-modifying effects, but new evidence in humans is necessary to fulfill that promise.

Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Parkinson's Disease

Epidemiological studies reviewed in 2016, suggest that 6.1 million people in the world had PD. There is currently no cure for PD. For now, currently, the treatment of PD includes drugs, general measures to control symptoms (ie, physical and occupational therapy), and surgery. Because dysfunction of the basal ganglia system for dopamine depletion occurs in the pathophysiology of PD, the key therapeutic strategy is the use of drugs that increase the amount of dopamine in the affected brain areas. PD is a progressive disease, despite pharmacotherapy or surgical treatments. The progression of symptoms and movement disorders in PD is so severe that patients resort to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), even without knowing their effectiveness and adverse reactions.