Keep Dancing!
The benefits of music for engaging people living with dementia is widely known, but did you know that by incorporating dancing into your day, the physical and cognitive stimulation maximizes the impact on neuroplasticity and cognition?
The New England Journal of Medicine published a paper in 2003 and found that dancing can reduce the risk of the onset of dementia. By measuring the mental alertness, as a way to monitor the rate of dementia in a 21 year study of adults 75 and older, the study found that dancing significantly reduced the risk of dementia by 76%.
Dr. Robert Katzman found that memorizing the sequencing of the steps in dances such as foxtrot, waltz, or the swing, requires constant spilt second decisions and your brain requires greater cognitive processing and will increase the neuronal synapses.
Dance also can help reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Dancing can improve their motor skills when dancing. The Argentine Tango can improve spatial awareness and memory.
Expressive therapies such as art, and movement helps persons living with dementia with self-expression, and dance can do the same. Benefits also include reducing anxiety, increased mobility, and can trigger pleasant memories.
Participating in recreation improves overall well-being in all of us, and especially for those living with dementia. Finding activities that you can share with your loved one can improve quality of life for both of you. So if you haven’t tried dancing (you do it someone in a wheelchair too!) give it chance!
When supporting person’s living with cognitive decline and memory loss, making sure their social, physical, cognitive and expressive needs are met. What better activity to address all those need than when dancing!
If you would like more information on our Memory Ministry or our Memory Cafe, please contact Vicky Pitner at vpitner@firstumc.org.