Ballroom grooving not only helps to revive the lost romance among couples but can also aid in avoiding suffering from dementia, according to scientists from the University of Sterling's Dementia Services Development Centre. The scientists said that when patients try to memorize the steps and follow and respond to partner's moves, it increases their brain function.
Apart from ballroom dancing, scientists suggest people eat fish oils and vitamins regularly, drink green tea and a glass of red wine (rarely), eat well, enjoy life, exercise, solve puzzles, and engage in lively discussions with friends to significantly lower the risk of dementia by more than half.
As a result, by making simple lifestyle changes, potential patients can try to keep the symptoms of the disease at bay.
Earlier this year, U.S. researchers determined that dementia rates will triple by 2050 if people continue to lead unhealthy lifestyles.
"This is meant to be a cheerful list of positive things we can all do to help ourselves. They are not going to do any harm and there is research evidence that they can all help. We know we cannot affect the final outcome. When people are told they have dementia and it cannot be treated, that gives them the feeling there is nothing they can do," Professor June Andrews from the University of Stirling, told the Express.co.uk.
"But if people are on that journey, the message is to live as well as you can and this list can help them do that."
Previous studies have determined that folate (a type of vitamin B that occurs naturally in foods such as beans and green leafy vegetables), vitamin E and vitamin B6 play an important role in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, Post Crescent reports.
According to a recent study by Eric Ammann of the University of Iowa, taking fish oils such as omega fatty acids can slow the progress of Alzheimer's, Examiner reports.
Last week, Professor Bruce Spiegelman from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston discovered that rigorous walking can help in slowing the arrival of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's in later stages of life, Daily Mail UK reports.
Alzheimer's Society, a leading U.K. care and research charity recently found that middle age stress could increase the risk of suffering from dementia in later life, IOL reports.
"Ensuring a good quality of life as we get older is important both for our physical and mental wellbeing," Dr Simon Ridley, of Alzheimer's Research U.K., told Express.
Anderson also said that by walking, swimming, keeping the mind busy by doing things like Sudoku or discussing politics, helps in preventing the disease. Lastly, he advises people to stop taking stress and enjoy life to the fullest.
"There are things that can help you to reduce the symptoms or delay the symptoms. The commonest symptoms are not being able to work things out, not being able to remember things and having difficulty doing the things you used to do. These are a couple of examples of what we think keep the symptoms at bay," Andrews said.
