By Bayo Ogunmupe
At certain points in our lives, we develop a negative relationship with the mirror. This is just because it keeps showing too many lines, too many grey hairs and sagging breasts. Thus, quite a few people end up refusing to face the mirror for any reason whatever. But we don't all have to resort to such drastic measures because there is something simple and enjoyable you can do to slow down your clock of ageing. As we grow older, we suffer a decline in mental and physical fitness. This is often made worse by conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
However, we're constantly being reminded of the health benefits of exercise and keeping physically active. A new study published in the open-access journal: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, shows certain people who routinely do physical exercise can reverse ageing in the brain and dancing as a form of exercise is the most effective. Dancing is the most effective exercise for the brain because it has the beneficial effect of slowing or even counteracting age related decline in physical capacity, according to Dr Kathrin Rehfeld the lead author of the study, based at the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Magdeburg, Germany.
In the study, it was shown that two different types of physical exercise (dancing and endurance training) both increase the area of the brain that declines with age. In comparison, it was only dancing that produces noticeable behavioral changes in terms of improved balance. The researchers invited 62 healthy elderly volunteers aged 63-80 years to join the study. Eventually, they chose 52 who met their inclusion criteria. They were then randomly assigned to the experimental dance group and the control sport group.
The content of the dance classes induced a permanent learning situation with constantly changing choreographies, which participants had to memorize accurately. The programme for the sport group included endurance training, strength endurance training and flexibility training. Both groups showed an increase in the hippocampus region of the brain, the area of the brain specifically prone to age-related decline. It also plays a key role in memory and learning, as well as in keeping one's balance.
But only participants in the dance group showed volume increases in more subfields of the left hippocampus and only dancing led to an increase in one subfield of the right hippocampus, namely the subiculum. While scientists know that physical exercise can combat age-related brain decline, this study showed that dancing, specifically continuously changing dance routines and choreography, is superior to repetitive exercise like cycling or walking.
Dr Rehfeld explains, "We tried to provide our seniors in the dance group with constantly changing dance routines of different genres (Jazz, square, latin American and Line Dance). Steps, arm pattern formations, speed and rhythms were changed every second week to keep them in a constant learning process. The most challenging aspect for them was to recall the routines under the pressure of time and without any cues from the instructor."
Dr Rehfeld and her colleagues are building on this research to develop new fitness programmes that have the maximum anti-aging effects on the brain. But what about those of us with only two left feet and no sense of rhythm? Instead of focusing on how awkward you might be looking, just lose yourself in the music. Music has many therapeutic benefits. just listening to music lifts our spirits and if you can manage to lift your backside as well, so much the better.
Like me, i believe everybody would like to live a happy, independent and healthy life, for as long as possible. Physical activity is one of the lifestyle factors that can contribute to your leading a long and happy life. It also counters ageing by slowing down age-related decline. Thus, I recommend dancing as a powerful tool for you to set new records of a healthy body and mind in old age.
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