Can Dancing Prevent Dementia?

A study at Albert Einstein College of Medicine is exploring whether group dancing might help ward off dementia, reports the Wall Street Journal . Previous research demonstrated that exercise in general results in cognitive enhancements and can even create structural changes in the brain. There is some evidence that dance may especially improve cognitive health. "Our hypothesis is that social ballroom dancing, in particular, will be more efficient than treadmill exercise," says Einstein Professor Helena Blumen. "It involves not only physical activity, but also social and cognitive activity." The Einstein study involves seniors 65 and older meeting twice a week for six months for 90-minute-long instructed dance classes, and a separate group coming in for twice-weekly, 90-minute-long treadmill walking sessions. Researchers have pre-identified participants at risk of developing dementia, with their "executive function" gauged before, during, and after the study. University of Pennsylvania Professor Jason Karlawish concurs with Blumen in that he sees dancing as more advantageous compared to exercise, because "it combines three things that have been shown in multiple studies to reduce the risk of developing dementia: social engagement, cognitive engagement, and physical activity."