Circle Dance for Family Caregivers of the Elderly With Alzheimer.

Brazilian Circle Dance Program for Family Caregivers of the Elderly With Alzheimer's Disease (CircleCare): a Single-blind, Parallel-group Randomized Controlled Trial

The primary objective of this research is to compare the effects of a 12-week CircleCare on physical functioning of family caregivers of the elderly with AD. Effects on cognition, psychosocial and frailty-related aspects (secondary objective). The acute effect of one circle dance session on mood states (tertiary objective). This randomized controlled trial will involve 40 family caregivers over 50 years old allocated into a control group or an intervention group of 12-weeks (twice a week, 60 min per session) of CircleCare. Primary outcomes will include balance, speed of gait, lower limb muscle strength, functional mobility and risk of falls. Secondary outcomes will include cognition, burden, stress, depression, quality of life and frailty. Mood states will be a tertiary outcome. The effects of CircleCare will be verified with an ANOVA two-way test and a multiple comparison test when necessary. The analyzes will follow an intention-to-treat approach. The change in moods will be evaluated by the paired t-test. The level of significance will be set at p<0.05. This study may guide professionals and health policymakers in deciding whether to implement this type of intervention. If positive effects are demonstrated, this program can be offered in public health services to other groups, given its low cost.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 50 years or older.
• Family caregiver for at least 6 months of an elderly person with Alzheimer's disease.
• Ability to walk without the help of another person.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cardiopulmonary or orthopaedic contraindication to the practice of physical exercise.
• Severe visual or hearing deficiency that impedes participation in the intervention and assessments.