Happy New Year! Let us celebrate this season of new with a little dancing!
A study by the New England Journal of Medicine discovered that dance had the most significant protection against dementia of any other leisure activities studied, reducing the risk by up to 76%. Other activities reviewed were reading, bicycling, swimming, crossword puzzles, and golf.
As our brain cells die and weaken with age, the first thing to go is nouns (like people's names) because there is only one pathway to remembering those. Dancing uses multiple pathways to movement, from coordinating steps and enjoying the music to social interactions. Therefore, there are more pathways a person's brain creates to facilitate the fun.
Dance requires practice of fluid movements which strengthen the body, and can improve our emotional, cognitive, and social well-being because of listening to music and interacting with other people. In addition, dance benefits us by improving cardiovascular health, improving balance and control, and boosting cognitive performance. It is gentle on the body, can be done by anyone, can be a social or independent activity, and is a good mood enhancer.
The wonderful message in these facts is that dancing early and often can help our brains no matter what age we are! Foxtrot your way into the new year and find out for yourself!
(This article was written through our partnership with Clear Care.)