Sensor-Based Assessment of Groove Music and Sports Dance on Cognitive–Emotional and Neuromuscular Functions in Older Adults

Global population aging has created an urgent need for effective interventions to mitigate cognitive–emotional decline in older adults. Given the limitations of pharmacological treatments and cognitive–behavioral therapy in terms of adherence and side effects, this study explores the potential of non-pharmacological approaches through a randomized controlled trial. Seventy-eight older adults (60–75 years) were assigned to one of three groups: groove music + sports dance (GODA), conventional music + sports dance (CODA), or a control group (CON). Over 12 weeks, participants engaged in three 60-min sessions weekly, each featuring a 45-min core training block. All interventions were delivered at a target low-intensity level (RPE 11–13, ‘somewhat hard’), with real-time RPE spot-checks confirming that between-group differences never exceeded 1 unit, thereby ensuring consistent exertion levels. Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured emotional regulation, executive function, neuromuscular coherence (β/γ-band sEMG), and prefrontal connectivity (fNIRS). Under low-intensity conditions, GODA significantly improved emotional regulation and executive functions—including working memory and planning—compared to CODA and CON. Furthermore, GODA participants exhibited increased neuromuscular coherence in β/γ-bands and enhanced mPFC-lPFC connectivity, which correlated with improved sensorimotor integration. In contrast, high-intensity interventions showed no group differences. These findings indicate that groove music combined with sports dance improves cognitive–emotional function and neuromuscular coordination in older adults, particularly during complex movements. The rhythm-driven benefits of GODA support its clinical utility as a feasible non-pharmacologic intervention to mitigate age-related cognitive–emotional impairments.