Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional phase between healthy aging and dementia. In MCI individual demonstrates deficits in one or more cognitive domains without significant impairment in daily functioning. Due to the lack of consensus on the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions targeting MCI, there is a growing interest in conservative methods to prevent, delay or even reverse the progression to dementia. Dance has been observed to have positive effects on the cognition of MCI patients, but it is unclear which features of dance are responsible for those effects.

This narrative literature review aimed to investigate the existing evidence about dance as a method of affecting cognition in healthy older adults with MCI and to find out which features of dance are responsible for the possible effects. The objective was to produce evidence-based information about dance as a method in cognitive rehabilitation. Six databases were searched, and out of the 235 identified records 10 original articles met the inclusion criteria.

Based on the results dance had positive effect on global cognition, memory and executive functions in older adults with MCI. Dance interventions were classified according to the dance style, dosage, intensity and progression. None of these features demonstrated superior effects in terms of cognition. Previous research suggests that there could also be other factors in the dance interventions that yield an improvement in the cognitive performance. Based on the observed benefits, dance can be recommended as an exercise method to maintain and improve cognition and thus support daily functioning and independent life in elderly MCI patients. In the future, more research and development of dance-based rehabilitation programmes are needed in order to make dance a more obtainable method for the target group.