One Shoe Can Change

Dance and Dementia.

Your Life

When our brain cells weaken with age, we forget places and names because there is only a single neural connection to the memory. Richard Powers, professional dance instructor at Stanford University compares the neural pathways to stepping stones across a creek. Powers says, The more stepping stones there are across the creek, the easier it is to cross in your own style. Brain cells are like stepping stones that may fail with age. Those people who cross the creek the same way, never trying another path will find themselves unable to cross when one of the stones is gone. Those who try different mental routes will have other paths left to bridge the gap.

Our brain rewires its neural pathways as needed. If it doesnt need to, then by Christy Dorrity it wont. In social dancing, partners make on the spot decisions that can You know that dancing is good exercise for your body and lifts your stimulate the neural pathways. Mau suggests that the intense mood, but did you know that dancing can also improve your memory? nonverbal communication and the physical and cognitive demands of learning and executing dance steps makes social dancing a A recent study led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in novelty. The novelty creates new pathways, new stepping stones New York City gives evidence that dancing may prevent dementia in the creek for the brain to use. more than other types of physical exercise. The 21-year study of senior citizens aged 75 and older measured the cognitive effect of Is Irish dance novel enough different activities in those who participated. Researchers observed and recorded how often the group of 469 men and women par- to promote neurogenesis? ticipated in six brain stimulating activities: reading, writing, cross- All dancing is beneficial to body and mind, but only the types of word puzzles, musical instruments, group discussions and playing dance that require split second decisions form the extra pathways. board games and eleven physical activities that included ballroom As you learn new steps and dances you are promoting neurogenesis. When those steps become second nature, the cognitive benefits dancing, team sports, swimming and bicycling. of dancing diminish. Irish dancing can promote neurogenesis when The researchers found that those persons who participated in in- you learn new skills and make rapid decisions. tellectually stimulating hobbies showed a reduced risk of dementia. They found no association between the physical activities and the prevention of dementia--except in the case of ballroom dancing, which showed a higher percentage of dementia reduction than any of the other activities. Those who read for fun showed a 35% reduced risk of dementia, bicycling and swimming resulted in 0%, and ballroom dancing an astounding 76%.

What can I do to build my cognitive reserve?

Attend dance as frequently as your schedule will allow and give yourself opportunities to use your intellectual skills. Make up dances on your own that stimulate your brain and encourage novelty. If your teacher is open to the idea, devote the last few minutes of class to a scatting session where creativity rules. Irish dancing can be a key in helping you to be both intellectually stimulated and physically active.

Laura Wilson Mau, a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist explains that certain human experiences can actually turn on genes Dancing has no negative side effects, Mau says. The research that facilitate neurogenesis, the growth in the human brain. Mau just points more and more toward its benefits in both wellness says, Novelty, physical exercise and enriching life experiences have and prevention. Why wouldnt you dance through your life? all been shown to activate gene expression which then contributes to the growth of new neurons in the brain.

So why does dancing prevent dementia?

Mau tells us, The process of ongoing neurogenesis can actually slow or stop or prevent the production of amyloid plaques (a hallmark of Alzheimers disease) in the brain.

Richard Powers http://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi/smarter.htm Lora Wilson Mau, MA, R-DMT http://dancetherapy.wordpress.com/about/

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May/June 2011

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