Dance training has been shown to be more effective in inducing brain plasticity in elderly individuals than repetitive physical exercise. The study compared a challenging dance program to conventional fitness training and found that while both groups improved in physical fitness, dancing led to larger volume increases in various brain areas. Only dancing was associated with an increase in plasma BDNF levels, a key factor in synaptic plasticity. Cognitive improvements were seen in attention and spatial memory for both groups, suggesting that cognitive benefits may develop after structural brain changes. This study recommends challenging dance programs as an effective way to combat aging’s effects on the brain.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0196636