Can this physical activity slow brain aging?

People have debated over whether dance is a sport or an art, but new research says dance may also be a therapy.

Recently, a study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found that dancing slowed down the aging of the brain in adults and increased the integrity of white matter near the hippocampus.

In the study, researchers collected MRI imaging data from adults ranging from 60-79 years old. The imaging was used to trace the effects of six months of lifestyle intervention. The adults were divided into groups of dancing, walking, walking and nutrition and stretching and toning.

After six months, dancing was the only intervention that led to an increase in white matter integrity.

Dr. Aaron Malina, a neuropsychologist at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Ill., states that "engaging in heart healthy behaviors such as dance can help to maintain general brain health and stave off the effects of brain-degenerating diseases."

Rebecca Atkinson, a personal trainer at Advocate Condell Centre Club, agrees and says, "dance helps to increase coordination, balance and agility, especially in older populations."

In a study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, it was found that in patients with Parkinson's disease, dancing has improved gait and upper extremities function. The study emphasizes that music stimulates the brain's reward centers, while dance activates the brain's sensory and motor circuits.

And professors at the Harvard Medical School found that because dancing uses several different regions of your brain at once, it helps strengthen the nerves that are involved in movement, balance and coordination.

So, put on some music, get groovin' and dance your heart out; your brain will surely appreciate it.