Dancing regularly can improve the mental and physical well-being of people over 85, according to a new British study.
- Regular dance sessions can benefit people over 85 by helping them be physically active and socialize.
- Study participants reported feeling younger, stronger and more confident after taking dance lessons.
- Researchers encourage the establishment of dance programs for seniors in order to fight against the decline in physical activity in the elderly, and the diseases that result from it.
Osteoarthritis, cognitive decline, frailty, anxiety… THE health problems increase with age. And, a sedentary lifestyle doesn’t help. However, researchers at the University of Leeds have found a way to improve the mental and physical well-being of older people. They discovered that dancing is beneficial for seniors, even for those over 85.
To dance makes you feel younger and stronger
As part of this study project called Dancing Wedance lessons were offered to 685 people over the age of 55 in the cities of Leeds, Bradford and Doncaster in the United Kingdom. The weekly sessions, where the participants were on average 75 years old, took place over a period of 12 months.
The results presented in the review BMC Geriatrics turned out to be eloquent. Indeed, after participating in the dance sessions, the seniors reported not only an increase in their physical strength and activity, but also an improvement in their mental well-being. Researchers have found that even individuals over the age of 85 can count on the beneficial effects of regular dance classes to improve their well-being and mobility.
Participants said they felt stronger, more confident and “younger” since dancing regularly. One of them confided in a communicated : “after a dance session WeI feel exhausted but brilliant! I’m much better now than I’ve ever been.”. Another explained: “It really changed my lifestyle because since I retired I think I was deteriorating. It has definitely improved my lifestyle and I feel younger just the few months I have been here. I feel much better.“
Senior : dance is an accessible option to fight against sedentary lifestyle
The researchers hope that their work will convince elected officials and health authorities to consider dance as an accessible and effective option to help seniors be active.
“Physical inactivity is recognized as one of the main risk factors for non-infectious diseases and mortality. Over time, there has been a decline in physical activity among older people, and this is particularly evident in people over 75. Opportunities to engage adults in physical activity are a global priority as they promote healthy aging and slow progression of disease and disability.”recalled Dr. Sarah Astill who conducted the research. “We show that dance delivered in a range of socially and economically diverse communities is a feasible way to inspire older people to be physically active. This is obvious even for ‘more old’ at age 85 and over.
