Dancing is good for you

Along with a glass of red wine, dancing is now shown to be good for the health and can also help delay the onset of dementia.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has reported on recent research which proves the benefits of dancing on the heart and mind. A comparison of aerobic exercises including dancing showed that it improved oxygen consumption, cardiovascular fitness and emotions for participants, compared with no improvement for the non-exercisers.

Another study showed a reduced incidence and risk of dementia associated with regular dancing. The physical exercise increases blood flow to the brain, and fewer dancers felt depressed and lonely. In addition, dancers must memorise intricate steps and movements, master timing, and coordinate movements with a partner – the type of mental acrobatics that hold off memory loss and dementia.

Finally, AARP reported, another study showed that tango classes led to better cognitive and multitasking testing balance and coordination, compared with walkers.