Can dancing prevent Alzheimer’s?

The answer to the title, depending on the source you consult, is “yes” or “perhaps, but we need further research.”

However, growing evidence supports the ability of dance to positively affect cognitive function. Additionally, the positive effects of dance are linked to preventing more health conditions associated with cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease, than other activities.

The Brain and Mind Connection

More specifically, dancing produces challenges to the brain, including memory, coordination, attention, and cognition. Recalling dance movements has been shown to stimulate several areas of the brain. When neuron activity in the brain increases, it opens new pathways for thought and ideas.

According to Harvard Medical School, PET imaging has revealed that dance activates “identified regions of the brain that contribute to dance learning and performance.”

A study of 469 people over age 75 published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that “participation in leisure activities is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.” The study called for further evaluation but stated that “dancing was the only physical activity associated with a lower risk of dementia.”

article written by: BethesdaHealth.org