On the day I left for AACE for three days of extreme mental and physical exercise (8 hours of dancing per day), USA Today and other news services reported a study on the effect of mental exercise on dementia, including Alzheimer’s. The study, which was set to appear in the New England Journal of Medicine on June 19, 2003 (abstract), asked people to keep track of how many times per week they did various activities. Researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City found seniors who participated in mind-stimulating leisure activities had a lower risk of developing dementia.

The activities that showed the greatest risk reduction were reading, board and card games, and playing a musical instrument. Of physical activities, only dancing was associated with risk reduction.

Here’s one writeup of the study: HealthScout-Seniors-Rx for the Mind: Mind Games.
And here’s another link: Health News

Now, let’s think about square dancing, especially advanced and challenge square dancing: It has all the features of a game AND it’s non-sedentary. We already know that exercise is good for longevity…why not get involved in an activity that gives you a mental workout as well.