Why Dancing Is Surprisingly Good for Your Brain
- Wordsworth the Tile
- Jan 21
- 3 min read
If someone told you one of the best things you could do for your brain involved music, movement, and a little chaos, you might be surprised just how true it really is.
Good news: it's backed by solid research.
Over the past several years, research has uncovered something quietly delightful — dancing supports brain health and healthy aging in ways few other activities can. And it does it without flashcards, pressure, or perfection.
In other words? Very Cattywampus!
Why Dancing Is Surprisingly Good for Your Brain
Dancing isn’t just exercise. And it’s not just mental stimulation. It’s a rare activity that asks your brain to do a lot of things at once, including:
Remembering steps and patterns
Coordinating balance and movement
Syncing actions with rhythm and music
Adjusting in real time
Often connecting with other people
This kind of multitasking for fun is exactly what the brain loves. Researchers call it multimodal engagement. It's why dancing is surprisingly good for your brain. We call it clever chaos.
What the Research Shows About Dancing and Dementia Risk
A landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine followed older adults over time to examine which leisure activities were associated with a lower risk of dementia.
Many activities helped, but dancing stood out. Participants who danced frequently showed a significantly lower risk of dementia compared to those who walked, cycled, or engaged in less complex physical activities.
Why? Because dancing constantly introduces:
Novelty
Learning
Challenge
Three things your brain thrives on. (We’re nodding along over here at Cattywampus.)
Dancing and Neuroplasticity: Training the Brain to Adapt
According to research highlighted by Harvard Health Publishing, dancing supports several key areas of brain function, including:
Memory
Balance
Attention
Executive function (planning, focus, task-switching)
Learning new dance steps actively encourages neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form and strengthen new neural connections at any age.
Translation: Your brain doesn’t want to retire. It wants to learn the next move.
The Social Connection Bonus (It Matters More Than You Think)
The Alzheimer’s Association emphasizes that activities combining physical movement, mental challenge, and social connection are especially supportive of long-term brain health.
Dancing naturally checks all three boxes.
Even solo dancing engages emotion, memory, and rhythm. Dancing with others adds laughter, connection, and shared joy — all of which support a healthier brain over time.
Turns out, fun is functional.
Healthy Aging Is About Engagement, Not Caution
The National Institute on Aging consistently highlights the importance of staying mentally active, curious, and engaged as we age.
Healthy aging doesn’t mean slowing your brain down. It means giving it something worth showing up for.
Dancing does that beautifully. So does solving clever word puzzles. So does learning new strategies. So does play that feels good and does good. Yes, those last three were all about Cattywampus. 😉
The Big Takeaway (No Lab Coat Required)
Dancing doesn't cure dementia. It doesn't guarantee prevention. What it does do is:
Support brain resilience
Encourage learning and adaptability
Activate multiple brain systems at once
Make people want to keep coming back
And consistency matters more than perfection. The brain doesn’t need punishment. It needs engagement. Sometimes that looks like a new word on the board. Sometimes it looks like dancing in the kitchen between turns. Both count.
Brain Tip, Cattywampus Style
If it makes you:
Think
Move
Laugh
Try again
Your brain’s probably into it.
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