Dave’s Diary: Dancing Reduces Risk of Dementia

I’m still recovering from my disappointment in the final outcome of “Dancing With The Stars”.  Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver won it and he’s a very likeable guy…but he wasn’t the best dancer…by far!  C’mon…Katherine Jenkins owned the dance floor week after week and looked great doing it.  She should have won!  I’ll get over it…eventually.  In the meantime it looks like ALL of us should shuffle out to the dance floor and get moving and memorizing our own routines because  there’s a major brain benefit!Anti-aging expert, Dr. T. Sinatra,  a board-certified cardiologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington, Connecticut....Certified as a bioenergetic psychotherapist, and nutrition and anti-aging specialist  says dancing is particularly powerful brain booster.  When we’re dancing, our brains need to take a lot into consideration, including balance, coordination and timing. That brain-drain actually kick-starts the growth of new brain cells and helps keep us young.

In addition to the overall exercise benefits– “Dancing with the Stars” participants always comment on weight loss and improved energy- the mental health benefits are substantial.  Brain dancing is most effective if you throw in a few new moves or steps each time. Dance for 30 minutes, 4 times a week, and you’ll cut the risk of dementia by 76%.