Dancing Could Help Reduce Risk of Dementia

We all know someone or know of someone who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, many of us have had a family member stricken with this horrible affliction. According to alz.org there are over 6.5 million Americans over the age of 65 who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Almost three quarters of them are over the age of 75. Their website also reports that almost two thirds of them are women, and “Older Black Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer's or other dementias as older Whites.” Over the years researchers have been looking for a treatment that could possibly eliminate or slow down the process.

Now, a study conducted by Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, written by AECM’s Helena Blumen, Associate Professor of Medicine and Neurology, appearing in The Conversation and reported in Human Kinetics Journals shows that there is a way to slow down the progression of cognitive decline, and it could be as simple as finding the nearest dance floor and letting loose. They concluded that ballroom dancing could be an activity that help those who suffer from the disease.

The researchers did a study where they examined 25 adults over 65 years of age and had them on a treadmill and gave them ballroom dancing lessons.

The scientists made it clear that the participants hadn't been formally diagnosed, they all did not score well on a dementia screening test before they began their six months of activities, twice a week as assigned by those conducting the study.

Afterward, they concluded that both kinds of physical activity "improved their executive functioning, an umbrella term for planning, reasoning and processing tasks that require attention."

They also said that dancing "generated significantly greater improvements than treadmill walking...Compared with walking, dancing was also associated with reduced brain atrophy in the hippocampus…a brain region that is key to memory functioning and is particularly affected by Alzheimer's disease."

The scientists said the "key finding" of their study published in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity was that "social ballroom dancing can improve cognitive functions and reduce brain atrophy in older adults who are at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia."

If you’re like me and even though we exercise regularly, we should consider adding some dance steps into our workout routine.

I believe that all of us would love to spread kindness as much as possible. We don't perform random acts of kindness for a variety of reasons, maybe we think we don't have time, or perhaps we feel money is the issue (it's not), or some might feel it's "weird." One extremely small way I try to be kind and friendly is when I'm on my daily run I give a quick wave to anyone and everyone I pass or see. I used to sometimes wait until someone else waved before I'd wave back, but at some point, I decided to always be the "wave initiator." Again, this is a very tiny, teeny-weeny thing I like to do, but there are so many other ways to spread joy.

The fine folks at The Guardian have compiled "52 Acts of Kindness: how to spread joy in every week of 2023" to help us make 2023 a better place and more enjoyable for all of us. Some are as simple as helping a dying bee or donating a coat, while others can be more complex, but certainly doable.

Here are some of the "52 Acts of Kindness" on the list, see how many you feel you could accomplish this year...

Maybe you have a special knowledge about a certain subject, try to help at least one person who needs it. Volunteer to help a struggling math student, or take some time to offer some knowledge to a student who is having trouble with their Spanish class.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcLGvYQfugY

There are many people who have and need their dogs, but, for various reasons, are unable to walk them. If they can't walk them, they may not be able to keep them. Maybe you can help.

It only takes a few minutes and it could save a life. This could quite possibly be the easiest thing we could do that has the largest positive impact on others. And there's the free donuts:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHHXv17b0Rc

Instead of simply donating the items in your pantry that you don't use, go to the supermarket and buy a couple of bags of groceries that you would want if you couldn't afford it.

https://franklinfoodbank.org/

This is a win/win! You tell someone how much you love their hair or like their shoes and you both get a good feeling. Everybody loves (and needs) to hear positive things about themselves and it doesn't cost anything.

We actually have one of those. Frania is one of our fantastic account executives here and she not only arranges all of the holiday parties and festivities, she also keeps a candy jar filled for all to enjoy. She also occasionally brings in treats like donuts or snacks for everyone. You don't have to be a Frania, but doing something similar from time to time would certainly be appreciated and could turn someone's bad day around.

If you don't already know how to perform CPR, now could be the time to learn. You would feel an amazing feeling of satisfaction, and you would be ready to help someone in need should the necessity arise.

How easy is this? You go and buy coffee everyday, but have you ever bought a stranger coffee. Simply, pay for it and say it's your good deed for the day. It will make you both feel good and maybe they'll pay it forward.