As we age, we suffer a decline in mental and physical fitness, which can be exacerbated by conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. A new study shows that older people who regularly participate in exercise can reverse the signs of aging in the brain, and dancing has the most profound effect. The study shows that two different types of exercise (dance and endurance exercise) increase brain area, which decreases with age. In comparison, it was only dancing that led to noticeable behavioral changes in terms of better balance.
Older volunteers, with an average age of 68, worked on the study and also received an 18-month weekly course of dance lessons, or endurance and flexibility training. Both groups showed an increase in the hippocampal region of the brain. This is important because this area can be prone to age-related decline and is affected by diseases such as Alzheimer's. It also plays a key role in memory and learning, as well as balancing yourself.
