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NCT Number: NCT07824128

Adaptango Performance PRocess for Older Adults Community reHabilitation

This study is being done to answer the question: How do people with Parkinson's disease, people with Mild Cognitive Impairment, and younger people process difficult topics in conversation? It will also explore themes related to dance, such as community building and justice, as perceived by persons with Parkinson's disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment, and younger individuals before and after the Adaptango performance process.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Emory University, Executive Park, Wesley Woods

Atlanta, Georgia, 30329, United States

About this study

This is a pilot study designed to assess the impact of the mediator/instructor role between dyads of older and younger adults as they engage in art and dance activities that address challenging topics.

The study aims to evaluate the effects of the Adaptango Performance Process (APP) on creativity, justice, and quality of life among persons with Parkinson's disease (PWP), people living with dementia (PLWD), and young adult participants. Validated measures of creativity, justice, and quality of life will be administered before and after the intervention.

The findings from this pilot phase will be used to inform the design and power calculations of future larger clinical trials intended to more definitively evaluate the effects of the APP program on creativity, engagement with challenging topics of societal importance, and psychosocial health across generations.

Findings from the arts-based method evaluation will also be considered when interpreting and reporting study results.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Individuals (PWP, younger adults, PLwD) from the greater Atlanta area. Those in the PWP group must be diagnosed by a neurologist specialized in Parkinson's disease.
  • Score of at least 18 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Those who are in the PLwD group must score between 18 and 25 on the MoCA.

Exclusion criteria

  • Acute medical illness requiring hospitalization
  • Uncontrolled congestive heart failure
  • History of stroke in the past three years
  • Inability to perform study procedures
  • Medical or physical conditions that would preclude participation (e.g., severe arthritis or mobility problems, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, renal failure, history of angina with activity)
  • Taking medications that could adversely affect cognition, e.g., antipsychotics, opioids, stimulants, chemotherapy, neurologic prescriptions to treat Multiple sclerosis. When applicable, enrollment will be delayed until dosages are stable on, e.g., Aricept, Namenda, anticholinesterase inhibitors, for at least 3 months
  • Psychotic disorders
  • Confounding neurologic conditions [e.g., active central nervous system (CNS) opportunistic infections, seizure disorders, head injury with loss of consciousness >30 minutes, intracranial neoplasms, stroke with neurological or neuropsychiatric sequelae]
  • Substance Use Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorders within six months of evaluation
  • Unable to provide informed consent
  • Cognitively impaired individuals or individuals with impaired decision-making, individuals who are not yet adults, pregnant women, prisoners
  • Not able to clearly understand English

Treatment and study plan

Adaptango Performance Process (APP) program

Other

Participants will take a three-month, biweekly choreographic process, ending in a weekend performance workshop at Emory University.

Tango instructors undergo 13 hours of American Council on Exercise-certified training on Adaptango methods, age-specific functional impairments, and fall detection and prevention. Adaptango modifications were made to the frame and several steps of Argentine tango.

Primary outcomes

  1. Participants' Satisfaction of the intervention (Acceptability)

    Time frame: Post-intervention at 8 months

    Satisfaction will be assessed post-intervention only with an Exit Questionnaire balanced for gender and race. Participants will rate (extremely easy/very easy) and their overall satisfaction with the intervention. A higher score indicates better satisfaction.

  2. Alternate Uses Task (AUT)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    The Alternate Uses Task (AUT) will be used to assess the patient's creativity by asking them to come up with as many alternate uses for an everyday object as possible in two minutes. Results are measured across four subscales: fluency- the number of alternative uses thought of originality - how unusual the uses given are; flexibility - the range of ideas in different categories; and elaboration-the level of detail given to an idea. Higher values in each subscale indicate higher levels of creativity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire Summary Index (PDQ-39 SI)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    The PDQ-39 is a patient-reported, disease-specific questionnaire used to assess health status and quality of life in Parkinson's disease over the preceding month. It consists of 39 items grouped into 8 distinct dimensions: mobility (10 items), activities of daily living (6 items), emotional well-being (6 items), stigma (4 items), social support (3 items), cognition (4 items), communication (3 items), and bodily discomfort (3 items). Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale indicating frequency: 0 (never), 1 (occasionally), 2 (sometimes), 3 (often), and 4 (always or cannot do at all).

    The PDQ-39 Summary Index (PDQ-39 SI) is derived by calculating the mean of the 8 dimension scores.

    Total index scores range from 0 to 100. Lower scores reflect a better health status/quality of life, while higher scores indicate a greater frequency and severity of health-related difficulties.

  2. The Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    The Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) is a comprehensive 50-question clinical tool used to evaluate both motor and non-motor symptoms, severity, and progression of Parkinson's disease. Each item is scored from 0 (normal) to 4 (severe), with higher summed subscale scores indicating greater disability.

    **Will you be reporting a paticular part of the scale, or are you reporting all? If so, we will need to entere separate parts with their respective scorings**

  3. 30-second chair stand test

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    The number of sit-to-stand maneuvers completed in 30 seconds is used to measure leg strength and endurance. A higher score is better.

  4. Timed Up and Go Simple and Dual tasks (TUG, TUG Cognitive and TUG Manual)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    Measures the time it takes to rise from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, and return to the chair in the simple condition. In the Cognitive condition, one is required to simultaneously count backward by 3s from a number between 20 and 100; in the Manual condition, one is required to simultaneously pick up a cup of water and carry it while completing the task. A lower score is a better outcome.

  5. 360 turn test (Time)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    The time it takes the participants to turn around in a complete circle. Lower times are better.

  6. 360 turn test (steps)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    The number of steps the participant takes to turn around in a complete circle. Lower number of steps is better.

  7. Static Postural Balance Assessment via Tandem Stance Test

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    Participants are instructed to stand with one foot directly in front of the other, heel-to-toe, with eyes open and arms at their sides or crossed over the chest. The examiner assists the participant into position and begins timing with a stopwatch once the examiner releases their hand support. Timing is recorded in seconds and ceases if the participant moves their feet, reaches for support, opens their eyes (if an eyes-closed variant), or reaches the ceiling threshold

  8. Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    Mini-BESTest (Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test) is a validated, performance-based assessment used to evaluate balance, functional mobility, and fall risk. It includes 14 items across four domains, with each item scored from 0 to 2:

    2 = Normal: Completes the task safely, quickly, and independently.

    1 = Mild impairment: Completes the task with hesitation, slower movement, uneven weight shifts, or use of an assistive device.

    0 = Severe impairment/Unable: Requires physical assistance or cannot complete the task safely.

    Total Score Interpretation (0-28):

    27-28: Normal balance; no significant deficits. 22-26: Mild balance impairment; monitoring or preventive exercise may be beneficial.

    <22: Significant balance impairment, indicating increased balance dysfunction and fall risk.

  9. The Dynamic Gait Index (DGI)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    DGI is an 8-item clinical assessment used to evaluate gait adaptability and balance during functional walking tasks. Each item is scored on a 4-point scale (0-3): 3 = normal performance; 2 = mild impairment; 1 = moderate impairment; 0 = severe impairment or inability to perform independently.

    Total scores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating better dynamic balance and mobility.

    Scores of 22-24 indicate normal balance and safe ambulation; 19-21 indicate mild instability; scores <19 are associated with increased fall risk in older adults and individuals with neurological conditions.

  10. Gait speed test

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    Gait speed testing (Forward/Backwards/Fast): How quickly a person can walk a specific distance forward and Backwards using a stopwatch. Faster speeds (m/s) are better.

  11. Four-square step test

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    The Four Square Step Test (FSST) is a quick clinical tool used to measure dynamic balance, agility, and the risk of falls by having a person rapidly step over low obstacles-traditionally four canes arranged in a plus-sign configuration on the floor. Because the Four Square Step Test (FSST) is a timed test, it does not use a point-based scale. Instead, performance is measured solely by the number of seconds it takes to complete the pattern. Normal values for the Four Square Step Test (FSST) generally range from under 10 to 15 seconds for healthy adults. A completion time of under 15 seconds indicates a low risk for falls in older adults, while a time of 15 seconds or longer suggests an increased risk for multiple falls.

  12. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) Score

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during APP ), and 8 months (after the APP program)

    The MSPSS has 12 items that assess how social support factors are perceived by individuals. This scale has three subscales to evaluate support by family, friends, and significant others. Respondents rate statements on a scale of 1 (very strongly disagree) to 7 (very strongly agree).

    Total scores range from 12 to 84, with higher scores being better and indicating an increased perception of social support.

  13. The Short Form 12-Quality of Life (SF12)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during APP ), and 8 months (after the APP program)

    The SF12 evaluates the level of activity and perceived physical and mental quality of life. The SF-12 uses a standardized system with scores ranging from 0 to 100, where the general population's average is 50, with higher scores indicating better health. Because it measures relative deviation, the numbers represent the following health levels:

    Above 50: Better than average health. Exactly 50: Average health status. 40 to 50: Below average health (mild disability or impairment). 30 to 40: Moderate disability or impairment. Below 40: Severe impairment or disability.

  14. The Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire (IPAQ).

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months (during intervention), and 8 months (post-intervention)

    The Impact on Participation and Autonomy (IPA) instrument will be used to assess the patient's self-perceived freedom and social involvement. Individual items are graded on a 0-4 scale. Subscale scores will be calculated for Autonomy Indoors (0-28), Autonomy Outdoors (0-20), Family Role (0-28), Social Relations (0-28), and Work/Education (0-24). Higher subscale totals directly reflect an increase in perceived limitations and restrictions of participation. A reduction in subscale values indicates a positive clinical response to treatment.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Madeleine E. Hackney, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

314-412-4852

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Emory University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Endowment for the Arts, United States

Registry information

Official study title

Community-based Participatory Evaluation Studies on a Partnered Dance Program for Adults With Neurodegenerative Disease

Acronym: APPROACH

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Sep 17, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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