Dance and Music for Parkinson’s Disease: Moving from Anecdotal to Empirical Evidence

LORRAINE KALIA
Division of Neurology | University of Toronto, CA

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that significantly impacts physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being. Dance – uniquely integrating music, physical activity, and artistic expression – has emerged as a compelling arts-based therapy that engages motor, cognitive, emotional, and social domains. This lecture will explore both anecdotal reports and empirical evidence supporting the use of dance in Parkinson’s disease, examining potential mechanisms of benefit. A critical review of clinical trials will be presented, highlighting methodological limitations and gaps in evidence. Based on this critique, the lecture will propose key elements for more rigorous research to better assess and refine the therapeutic potential of dance in Parkinson’s disease care.

Lorraine Kalia is an Associate Professor in the Division of Neurology at the University of Toronto in Canada. She is a movement disorders neurologist and neuroscientist whose clinical work and research program focus on improving the understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Lection Series „Musik & Medizin“
The Salzburg lecture series Musik & Medizin presents scientific and artistic contributions from leading international experts in various disciplines to explore the interactions and mechanisms between the experience, processing and psycho-physiological impact of music on humans and to understand how music may promote health and wellbeing.
The lecture is part of an interdisciplinary course where the referents discuss themes of their fields of research.

Idea & Direction Lection Series „Musik & Medizin“
Katarzyna Grebosz-Haring (Systematic Musicologist | Programme Area (Inter)Mediation, Focus Area Arts & Knowledges | University Mozarteum Salzburg).
In cooperation with Leonhard Thun-Hohenstein (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Paracelsus Medical Private University Salzburg)

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