New Research Examines Whether Dancing Can Improve Brain Health in Older Adults

More than 30 older adults at risk of dementia are participating in a study on the beneficial effects of dancing at New York's Albert Einstein College of Medicine, reports CBS New York . For six months one group takes dance classes twice weekly while a second cohort walks on a treadmill, supplemented by cognitive tests and imaging. Albert Einstein College of Medicine's Helena Blumen noted there is evidence that exercise can positively impact the brain, while dancing could carry extra benefits. "So you dance. That's the aerobic part," she said. "But you also dance with other people so you socialize with them, which also has been shown to be effective. And you also learn new steps, which is cognitively demanding." Researchers think this study could eventually inspire senior communities to add dance classes.