Effects of Dance and Other Non-pharmacological Interventions on Brain Function

Event Description:

The beneficial consequences of dance exercise therapy on the brain are multimodal, dance increases physical fitness, improves balance and mood, and has positive effects on cognitive functions. Team of the Applied Neuroscience research group at CEITEC MU in collaboration with partners at the Faculty of Sports Studies at MU found the effect of the 6-month intensive dance-movement intervention on cognitive functions as well as the structure and function of the brain in a group of aged volunteers and subjects with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Magnetic resonance imaging showed surprising results including dance-induced increased cortical thickness in specific brain areas engaged in motor learning as well as increased functional connectivity of the brain networks engaged in various cognitive activities and movement coordination.

Other non-pharmacological strategies have also been extensively studied by the team. These particularly involve non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques with or without cognitive training which have become a hot topic in cognitive rehabilitation in the last few years. Various techniques have been available such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, or transcranial alternating current stimulation. We have used various techniques in combination with MRI to identify neural correlates of NIBS-induced brain changes associated with improved cognition. In collaboration with experts from the Brno University of Technology, we also identified an optimal protocol for enhancing voice and speech intensity and eligibility in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), i.e., the second most common brain neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. Patients have problems with articulation and voice intensity and prosody which makes their communication difficult and impacts on their quality of life. These symptoms cannot be well treated by antiparkinsonian medication. We proved the effects of NIBS for speech problems in PD in a randomized controlled trial and showed both behavioural and MRI brain changes induced by the stimulation. We will now continue with studies using home-based devices for NIBS.

Lecture is held by Irena Rektorova, MD, Ph.D., a professor of Neurology and Head of the Applied Neuroscience Research Group at CEITEC Masaryk University.