Scientists agree: Dancing for a healthy brain!

Dancing is the best brain work!

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City recently completed a 21 year study of seniors, to measure the effects of various activities on brain activity. It was funded by the National Institute on Aging, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.  They studied a lot of different physical activities as well as mental activities like reading and doing puzzles. The coolest thing to come out of the study (for me anyway) was that the ONLY physical activity to have any effect on dementia was dancing. Mental activity, like challenging puzzles, also worked, but it all worked better the more you do it.

If you want to keep your mind sharp, don’t just learn to dance, but dance OFTEN. The more you dance, the happier your brain will be. Of course I’m a big believer in doing the things that bring you joy, and there are many other benefits to any form of exercise, especially if it’s a joyful activity for you. But for the protection of your mind’s health, there is apparently only one choice: dance! How cool is that?

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