Allison Walker, Generation to Generation
Frequent dancing is the only physical activity that protects you from dementia according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2003.
But as News 13's Allison Walker explains, seniors who don't dance often are about to see -- for the first time ever -- a brand new way of bustin' a move.
The DanceTown Fitness System is an interactive video game designed for older adults that has just been unveiled in Orlando.
The manufacturer claims its product could transform fitness and wellness in the senior living industry.
Active aging expert Colin Melner agrees.
"It's great for coordination. It's also great for cognitive abilities because I'm memorizing the steps to the various dances." Melner said.
The screen tells the participant what they are doing wrong and the program gives them a great workout, too.
It works like this: The footwork is displayed on a computer screen. The dander is supposed to follow along with the steps.
Melner says that stimulates the brain and enhances physical, mental and emotional health.
But what if you have two left feet or can't move like you used to?
The movements are more in tune with what the older adult is looking for, such as waltz, as opposed to modern music for the kids.
Although you don't need a partner to dance to Patsy Cline, Dancetown's designers say their mission is to get people in retirement homes to socialize more and avoid isolation.
So far, DanceTown has been launched in about 100 senior living facilities across the country.
Since Dancetown is so new, researchers are just starting to measure its impact on adults' health. Potential benefits are improved memory and attention, and reduced risk of falls and osteoporosis.
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