Exploring dance as a therapy for symptoms and social interaction in a dementia care unit.

Background: There have been many debates about the use of some atypical antipsychotic drugs in managing agitation in dementia care. Much research has also been carried out in the area of psychosocial interventions, which can include dance therapy.

Aim: To evaluate Wu Tao dance therapy as an intervention for dementia and assess its impact on agitation.

Bright light therapy for agitation in dementia: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Agitation is common in people with dementia, is distressing to patients and stressful to their carers. Drugs used to treat the condition have the potential to cause particularly severe side effects in older people with dementia and have been associated with an increased death rate. Alternatives to drug treatment for agitation should be sought.