If you were to choose between, brisk walking, stretching or dancing, dancing may be the best for the brain, study reveals.
-In a recent study, conducted by the University of Illinois, scientists studied and compared the neurological effects of dancing to that of walking and other activities.
-The study included 174 healthy individuals aged between 60 and 70 with no signs of cognitive impairment. Most of them lived a sedentary lifestyle, only a few exercised regularly.
-The study was focused to evaluate their aerobic fitness, mental capabilities and a comprehensive brain scan.
-The participants were further into divided into smaller groups in which some followed a program of brisk walking (an hour everyday for three days a week), whereas others did simple stretching and balance training (three times a week) and others learnt to dance (three times a week for an hour).
-Post six months, the brain activity of the participants was monitored. Slight improvement in the degeneration of the white matter of the volunteers (who lived a sedentary lifestyle) but practiced dancing lately was observed.
-Participants who practiced dance showcased significant changes in the biochemistry of the brain such as increase in the thickness and quantity of the wiring of the brain.
-Almost all the groups performed much better in the thinking tests. Amongst all, people who practiced dance revealed white matter gains.
-Findings were published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Source: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience