Dance might sharpen young minds and bodies — a trial puts it to the test

NCT ID NCT07769411

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Aug 18, 2026 · Last updated Aug 20, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This trial investigates whether a 12-week dance program can improve both physical fitness and cognitive function in female college students. About 108 first-year students will be split into two groups: one taking dance classes during physical education, and the other continuing their regular PE routine. Researchers will measure changes in lung capacity, flexibility, sprint and endurance performance, as well as attention, memory, and executive function before and after the program.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
A structured 12-week dance program delivered during university physical education classes
What this could lead to
If dance proves effective, it could offer a fun, accessible way to enhance both physical fitness and cognitive health in young adults.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial in a specific group (female college students), so results may not apply broadly. The outcomes are short-term and may not reflect lasting benefits.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

108 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Mar 2026

Finished

Jun 2026

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 20 years

Sex

Female participants only

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: Female students aged 18-20 years. First-year college students enrolled in one of the two participating physical education classes. No formal dance training during the previous six months. Medically able to participate in moderate-intensity exercise, as confirmed by the university annual health screening. Able and willing to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Diagnosed neurological or psychological disorders that could affect cognitive testing. Major musculoskeletal injuries that could interfere with participation in physical activity. Cardiovascular conditions or other contraindications that could make exercise unsafe. Language or cognitive difficulties preventing valid completion of questionnaires or cognitive tests. Failure to meet the inclusion criteria or refusal to participate before allocation.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Motor Activity

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Jiangsu University of Science and Technology

    Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212100, China

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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.