Many people love to dance – it’s a great way to get moving and have fun! Plus there’s some evidence that the benefits of dance are especially strong for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Here is everything we currently know about the relationship between dance and dementia.
The Origins of Dance
First, a brief history of dance and how it has evolved over time. References to dancing date all the way back to ancient times. Dance was originally an important form of communication that playaed a central role in many ancient civilizations. It has been a part of human history for just about as far back as we can tell.
Over time, the role of dance in communities has evolved. Today, while it is still used to communicate in a sense, many cultures view it as an artform that allows for expression. It is something that many people enjoy as a part of their daily lives – either watching dance, or engaging in it themselves.
Benefits of Dance
Why might someone dance? Besides simply enjoying it, there seem to be numerous other benefits of dance. Many of these are similar to the benefits of physical activity in other forms.
Dancing can be a fun way to stay active and improve your cardiovascular health. Depending on the specific dance form, it can also greatly improve your flexibility and mobility.
Across various studies and in numerous populations, dance has also been shown to boost mood and stimulate social interaction. It’s a very social activity that can help us strengthen our bonds to one another.
There appear to be cognitive benefits to dancing as well. A study in 2021 found that participating in dance improves one’s physical and mental well-being. Completing a movement in a dance stimulates the reward center in our brains, making us feel successful and accomplished. And finally, there is research to show that dance can even improve memory. Let’s dive deeper into the relationship between dance and memory – in particular, how dancing and Alzheimer’s or dementia are connected.
Dancing and Dementia
Dance and memory may not seem to be related at first glance, but the research shows that there actually is quite a connection. And it points to dance as a powerful tool to improve memory and slow cognitive decline.
Where is the evidence for these statements? In a handful of recent studies that looked at the impacts of dancing on people’s lives. One such study, conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, saw improved memory for participants who took part in a Latin ballroom dance program, compared to those who did not.
There are studies focused specifically on Alzheimer’s and dementia as well. As a whole, these studies show improved mood, reduced anxiety and agitation, and less depressive symptoms for people with dementia who engage in dancing. A review of studies in 2019 found evidence that dance slowed down the rate at which participants’ quality of life worsened over time. And another study in 2022 found that interventions involving music and exercise were successful in slowing down cognitive decline.
All of this to say, dance seems beneficial for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia in numerous ways. For these reasons and more, our memory care homes offer residents ample opportunities to dance. With the potential memory benefits and the improved mood and quality of life dancing brings, it is an activity we encourage our residents to participate in often.
The Future of Dancing for Dementia
So can people dance away their dementia? Probably not, but there is hope for dance therapy as a treatment to slow the progress of cognitive decline.
We’ve broadened our understanding of the role dance can play for those with memory impairment, but there is still much to learn. As more research is conducted, we will be able to see how dancing helps memory, and how it can most effectively be used as a targeted dementia treatment.
And as it stands now, dance is already a powerful tool. It can improve the quality of life for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, along with stimulating social interaction and boosting mood. Dance parties and activities that involve dancing are great options for residents in memory care homes. Here at Dolan, we’ll keep dancing through life in our memory care homes!
Sources:
- https://www.news-medical.net/health/Dancing-Through-Dementia-How-Movement-Aids-Memory-and-Mood.aspx#:~:text=It%20can%20also%20increase%20a,%2C%20agitation%2C%20and%20depressive%20symptoms.
- Ruiz-Muelle, A. and López-Rodríguez, M.M. (2019) ‘Dance for people with alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review’, Current Alzheimer Research, 16(10), pp. 919–933. doi:10.2174/1567205016666190725151614.
Wu, C.-C. et al. (2022) ‘Dance movement therapy for Neurodegenerative Diseases: A systematic review’, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 14. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2022.975711.
