Purpose: To systematically review the effectiveness of dance-based programs to improve motor-cognitive dual-task performance in middle-aged and older adults.

Materials and methods: Five scientific databases were selected … Ninety-one articles were found in the electronic databases. Fourteen articles fulfilled all inclusion and exclusion criteria…

Results: All the studies had an acceptable methodological quality. Dance-based interventions had a duration of 8–52 weeks, 1–3 sessions per week, with sessions lasting 40–90 min. According to the overall effect size, dance-based interventions significantly improved dual-task performance (−0.48 with a 95% confidence interval from −0.88 to −0.08).

Conclusions: Dance-based intervention programs may be effective at improving the performance on motor-cognitive dual-task in middle-aged and older adults. Apart from the effects on the cognitive Time Up and Go test, dance interventions may also improve speed walking with a cognitive task. All these conclusions must be taken with caution due to the heterogeneity and the small number of articles. Future research can be developed to increase the knowledge on these issues.