Is Dancing Good for Brain Health?

Remember when you were young and would turn on some music and dance for hours? Maybe you liked cutting up the dance floor at clubs. Or perhaps you felt more comfortable dancing alone in your living room. Wherever you danced, you probably felt good afterward. Sweaty and tired, but good. Studies have shown that dancing offers countless health benefits for people of all ages. In fact, this simple activity benefits both your body and brain, especially as you age. Here are a few reasons why dancing is excellent for your cognitive health.

1. Slows down aging.

When you dance, you probably feel young again. Turns out, there might be a reason for that. According to Dr. Kathrin Rehfeld of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Magdeburg, Germany, dancing has a more profound impact on brain health than other exercises. “Exercise has the beneficial effect of slowing down or even counteracting age-related decline in mental and physical capacity,” says Dr. Rehfeld. “In this study, we show that two different types of physical exercise (dancing and endurance training) both increase the area of the brain that declines with age. In comparison, it was only dancing that led to noticeable behavioral changes in terms of improved balance.”

The hippocampus, an area of the brain responsible for memory, balance, and learning, is susceptible to decline as we age. Dancing increases volume in this area of the brain. The change in choreography and memorization of steps makes the brain “work” extra, as opposed to other repetitive physical activities such as walking or biking. Physical activity of all types, from aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility training, has effects of slowing down and even preventing decline in both mental and physical activity in the brain.

2. Reduces stress.

No matter what type of dancing you want to do, the music uplifts you, and then you move to it. Beyond the obvious physical benefits, dancing also boosts your mental health. When you dance, your body releases endorphins, also known as “feel-good” chemicals that make you happy. These, in turn, can reduce stress and anxiety.

According to a survey published in the Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 98% of participants stated that dancing improved their health, gave them greater confidence, and boosted their overall well-being. “The number of participants who reported a therapeutic benefit was really large,” said Dr. Siddarth, a research statistician at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. “That was the most surprising thing to me—the percentage of participants who were so benefited by this.”

So, the next time you’re feeling stressed, try not to marinate in your worries. Instead, turn on your favorite music and get moving. Seated or standing, you can dance your cares away. Have fun with it, do not feel self-conscious, and laugh at yourself. Like I always say, do what feels best for you.

3. Boosts creativity.

While results are mixed, some studies suggest that creativity declines as we age. And while it can be easy to blame our aging brains for our imaginations losing some of their spark, the truth might be a lot simpler. When we were kids, we couldn’t get enough of creative activities. We painted, doodled, wrote stories, saw pictures in clouds and the plaster on our ceiling, and never stopped daydreaming. As we age, however, real-life responsibilities often get in the way of our private inner worlds. We stop drawing. We see clouds as mere fixtures in the sky or warnings of an impending storm. Maybe we’re still creative; our imaginations are just rusty. The answer to relighting our spark? Engaging in fun, creative activities!

Better yet? Studies show that dancing boosts creativity! “Many scientific studies have concluded that dance contributes to our health and well-being in many ways—including to our creativity,” said clinical psychologist Dr. Monica Vermani. “Dance provides an opportunity to be purely creative and inspired. It immerses us in the creative process, thus improving our ability to be creative,” Dr. Vermani added. You don’t need to take dance classes or ask a professional to choreograph a routine for you. Just play your favorite song and let the lyrics flow through your body and inspire your movements!

4. Sharpens your memory.

For older adults, forgetting an appointment or an ingredient in your mother’s famous apple pie is more than an inconvenience. It can be a major cause for concern, especially since research shows that 42% of Americans aged 55 and older will eventually develop dementia. That’s why it’s important for older adults of all ages to do whatever they can to keep their memories sharp and their neurons firing. A lot of people turn to mental activities, like crossword puzzles, reading, and journaling. But did you know that dancing can also hone your memory?

According to a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, dancing was the only physical activity associated with a lower risk of dementia. Furthermore, a 2003 study found that dancing improved the memory of participants aged 75 and older with mild cognitive decline. The same study showed that dancing regularly reduced the risk of dementia by 75%! Talk about a “wow moment”, huh? So, if you want to keep your memory in perfect working order, the answer is simple. Turn on your favorite tunes and get moving!

5. Reduces loneliness.

Sadly, statistics show that more than a third of people between the ages of 50 and 80 are lonely. Worse still, many of them are more than lonely. They’re socially isolated, which puts them at a higher risk for serious health problems like heart disease, depression, and dementia. In this highly digitized (alarmingly so, perhaps) world, it can be hard to find real-life connections. Gone are the days when your neighbor would host book clubs and barbecues. Most of our socializing occurs online. Or so we tell ourselves when we pine for the good old days, when our phones were relegated to one spot in the house, tethered in place by a long, spiral cord.

The simple truth is that social opportunities are still out there. We just have to look for them! One such social opportunity? Dancing! Whether you want to enroll in a Zumba class or try your hand at ballroom dancing, look for a dance class near you. You don’t have to be a great dancer or even an outgoing person to join! While dancing alone is fun, dancing with an entire class full of other people is even more enjoyable. Plus, it staves off loneliness, keeping your brain happy, healthy, and thriving!

Takeaway

You don’t have to be a professional to benefit from dancing! You just have to keep moving and stay consistent. Maybe your mobility isn’t what it used to be, and that’s okay! If a move comes up that just does not feel right for you, modify it to one that does. I personally have an entire library full of dance workouts on my channel, so be sure to check those out! From my low-impact cardio workouts, my salsa cardio workouts, line dancing, ballroom dancing—find the type of dancing that you like and get the brain and body moving! You’ll be happy that you did!

This article was originally published on SeniorFitnesswithMeredith.com. Used with permission.

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