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Older Latinxs engage in lower levels of leisure-time physical activity (PA) compared with non-Latinx Whites. Latin dance is a culturally relevant type of leisure-time PA that may engage older Latinx populations, particularly when coupled with mobile health technologies (mHealth). This single group pre-post feasibility study described the PA and health outcomes of middle-aged and older Latinxs participating in BAILA TECH--an intervention that combines the BAILAMOS Latin dance program with mHealth (Fitbit Charge 2, Fitbit app, and motivational text messages). Participants (n = 20, M[subscript age] = 67 ± 7.1, female n = 15, 75%) were enrolled in the 16-week BAILA TECH intervention held twice a week. Participants received a Fitbit Charge 2 to assess PA at baseline, during the intervention, and postintervention. An mHealth platform (iCardia) collected Fitbit data and staff delivered weekly motivational and informational text messages. Participants completed questionnaires about PA, sedentary behavior, cardiorespiratory fitness, social support, quality of life, and cognitive function at baseline and postintervention. Paired t tests evaluated change in pre-post measures. There was a significant increase in device-assessed moderate-to-vigorous PA (d = 0.69), self-reported light-leisure (d = 1.91) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (d = 1.05), moderate-to-vigorous leisure PA (d = 1.55), predicted cardiorespiratory fitness (d = 1.10), and PA social support (d = 0.81 [family]; d = 0.95 [friends]) from baseline to postintervention. Although nonsignificant, there was a small effect on physical health--related quality of life (d = 0.32) and executive function (d = 0.29). These data describe an increase in PA levels and health-related outcomes of middle-aged and older Latinxs from participation in an mHealth-infused Latin dance intervention. An adequately powered trial is necessary to establish efficacy.

Background: Latinos are the fastest growing minority group of the older adult population. Although physical activity (PA) has documented health benefits, older Latinos are less likely to engage in leisure time PA than older non-Latino whites. Dance, popular among Latinos, holds promise as a culturally relevant form of PA.Purpose: To describe self-reported and device-assessed changes in PA as a result of a randomized controlled trial of BAILAMOS, a 4-month Latin dance program with a 4-month maintenance program, versus a health education control group.Methods: Adults, aged 55+, Latino/Hispanic, Spanish speaking, with low PA levels at baseline, and risk for disability were randomized to the dance program (n = 167) or health education condition (n = 166). Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling with full information maximum likelihood.Results: A series of multilevel models revealed significant time × group interaction effects for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), dance PA, leisure PA, and total PA. Exploring the interaction revealed the dance group to significantly increase their MVPA, dance PA, leisure PA, and total PA at months 4 and 8. Household PA and activity counts from accelerometry data did not demonstrate significant interaction effects.Conclusions: The study supports organized Latin dance programs to be efficacious in promoting self-reported PA among older Latinos. Efforts are needed to make dancing programs available and accessible, and to find ways for older Latinos to add more PA to their daily lives.Clinical Trial Information: NCT01988233. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical activity (PA) is a promising method to improve cognition among middle-aged and older adults. Latinos are at high risk for cognitive decline and engaging in low levels of PA. Culturally relevant PA interventions for middle-aged and older Latinos are critically needed to reduce risk of cognitive decline. We examined changes in cognitive performance among middle-aged and older Latinos participating in the BAILAMOS™ dance program or a health education group and compared the mediating effects of PA between group assignment and change in cognitive domains. Methods: Our 8-month randomized controlled trial tested BAILAMOS™, a 4-month Latin dance program followed by a 4-month maintenance phase. A total of 333 older Latinos aged 55+ were randomized to either BAILAMOS™, or to a health education control group. Neuropsychological tests were administered, scores were converted to z-scores, and specific domains (i.e., executive function, episodic memory, and working memory) were derived. Self-reported PA was assessed, and we reported categories of total PA, total leisure PA, and moderate-to-vigorous PA as minutes/week. A series of ANCOVAs tested changes in cognitive domains at 4 and 8 months. A mediation analysis tested the mediating effects of each PA category between group assignment and a significant change in cognition score. Results: The ANCOVAs found significant improvement in working memory scores among participants in the dance group at month 8 [ F (1,328) = 5.79, p = 0.017, d = 0.20], but not in executive functioning [ F (2,328) = 0.229, p = 0.80, Cohen's d = 0.07] or episodic memory [ F (2,328) = 0.241, p = 0.78, Cohen's d = 0.05]. Follow-up mediation models found that total PA mediated the relationship between group assignment and working memory, in favor of the dance group (β = 0.027, 95% CI [0.0000, 0.0705]). Similarly, total leisure PA was found to mediate this relationship [β = 0.035, 95% CI (0.0041, 0.0807)]. Conclusion: A 4-month Latin dance program followed by a 4-month maintenance phase improved working memory among middle-aged and older Latinos. Improvements in working memory were mediated by participation in leisure PA. Our results support the current literature that leisure time PA influences cognition and highlight the importance of culturally relevant PA modalities for Latinos. Clinical Trial Registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT01988233]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]