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Save your brain, dance!

Saturday, 27 November 2010 17:22 Sergio Leal
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The Einstein Aging Study, summarized in June 19, 2003 New England Journal of Medicine, found that dancing helps prevent Dementia. Dementia in the study refers to both Alzheimer's disease and Vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is the 2nd most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's.

The study included participants in six brain-stimulating hobbies - reading, writing for pleasure, doing puzzles, board games or playing cards, group discussions and playing music. The study also included participants in 11 physical activities including team sports, swimming, bicycling and dance. Dance was the only physical activity found to benefit the brain. This was attributed to the cerebral rather than the physical aspect of dance.

Researchers found that the relationship between the mind-stimulating effects of dancing, as well as in the above six types of hobbies, and the lowered risk of dementia remained strong, even after they allowed for variables such as age, sex and education. Frequency of activity was also important 63% lower than that among subjects in the lowest third.

We believe this emphasizes the importance of engaging in a regular program of dancing. The need to learn and remember numerous dance movements produces a constant and very beneficial challenge to the brain. The social aspects of dancing, the relaxation it produces and the joy of dancing also is involved. The sense of accomplishment and confidence acquired by successfully completing a dance with a partner are beneficial, as well.

Fitness, both mental and physical, often begins with one's state of mind. Mental acuity comes from mental exercise and if you're dancing, you're not sitting at home watching TV or feeling sorry for yourself. This applies to every one of all ages. Among mind stimulating activities, dancing is unique in that it also provides beneficial physical exercise.

Many people have gotten the message. That's why we see increasing numbers of people of all ages having the time of their lives on dance floors all over the country. They are receiving a couple payoffs, mental and physical.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 September 2012 19:04