How Can Dancing Reduce Alzheimer’s?
Dance is a gift that goes beyond barre work, leotards, and a sense of rhythm. It is one of the most freeing forms of expression and emotion. In addition, people who move more, dancing or otherwise, increase blood flow to their brain, brain function, and their potential for more advanced intelligence. It isn’t that they are smarter, necessarily; it’s that they are giving themselves the best chance to fully utilize their brain, according to Dr Judith Hanna, in her book, Dancing To Learn.
Studies have shown that students who exercise before a test perform better on the test. I am not making this up! It does occur to me, however, that we might want to think about bringing back PE class to schools on an everyday basis. We need smarter kids.
We need to move. We need to move more. We need to move more now! What better way to move than to dance. It can be structured or not, free-form or disciplined. Make it up, or take classes.
Dancing is one of those whole body exercises, and is considered a non-verbal language. Nice to know that I speak more than one language, even if I can’t remember 9th grade French.
Every part of the body participates in dance, utilizing coordination and synchronization of balance, posture, limbs, facial expression, emotion, vision, and sequencing of movement itself. Dance promotes positive neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to constantly be changing, dependent on circumstances and information, impacting perception, comprehension, learning, and memory. It strengthens bonds between neurons, producing a brain more resilient to Alzheimer’s.
Dance produces endorphins, the feel good hormone that improves mood. And let’s face it; dancing is fun. No one need see you as you tap dance up the stairs like Fred Astaire, waltz like Ballroom Champions, or klutz like Steve Martin in The Jerk. Dance for yourself. Dance for your health. Dance for your brain. You don’t need talent to move to music; you need iTunes, the radio, or in my case, records. Huh?
Turn up the music, and put on your dancing shoes; your brain is waiting.
That’s Aging Intelligently