Effects of dance-based physical activity on cognitive and psychological health across age groups: a systematic review.

Background: Dance-based physical activity is a multimodal intervention integrating motor, cognitive, emotional, and social components, and has been increasingly recognized for its potential to enhance cognitive function and mental health. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness across different age groups remains fragmented. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the effects of dance-based interventions on cognitive and psychological health across different age groups. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261338912). Six electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and SPORTDiscus) were systematically searched from database inception to 28 August 2026. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) that examined the effects of dance-based interventions on cognitive and/or psychological outcomes in participants of any age. Due to substantial heterogeneity in intervention types, outcome measures, and study designs, a narrative synthesis was performed. Results: A total of 22 studies involving 1,645 participants aged 4 to 94 years were included. Favorable findings were reported for selected cognitive outcomes, including global cognition, memory, and attention, whereas findings for executive function were mixed. Some studies also reported favorable changes in depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, emotional well-being, subjective well-being, and quality of life. However, these findings were not consistent across all studies or outcome measures, and differences in outcome measures and statistical reporting prevented reliable comparison of effect magnitude across studies. Several favorable findings were derived from studies judged to have a high, serious, or critical risk of bias. The evidence was predominantly derived from older adults, particularly those with cognitive impairment, whereas evidence involving children, adolescents, and younger or middle-aged adults remained limited and heterogeneous; therefore, definitive comparisons across age groups could not be made. Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that dance-based physical activity may have favorable effects on selected cognitive and psychological outcomes, with the evidence most extensively derived from older adults, particularly those with cognitive impairment. However, methodological heterogeneity, small sample sizes, study-level risk of bias, and limited long-term follow-up restrict the strength of these conclusions. Evidence involving children, adolescents, and younger or middle-aged adults remains insufficient for meaningful comparisons across age groups. Further high-quality trials are needed to determine optimal intervention parameters and clarify the mechanisms underlying the potential cognitive and psychological effects of dance-based physical activity. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD420261338912, CRD420261338912.