In a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine in 2003 ballroom dancing was found to be the only physical activity studied that was significantly associated with fewer dementia cases. Over the course of 21 years 469 people were studied as they aged to see who would ultimately develop signs of dementia. Records of their favorite mental and physical activities were kept over those years.
From the many mental and physical activities studied, ballroom dancing was the most associated with fewer dementia cases even after other possible factors were controlled for.
Scientists are starting to find out what dancers have always known, that dancing keeps one mentally and physically fit - and the younger you start in developing the positive habits through dancing the better!
