Use it or lose it: Dancing makes you smarter.

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For centuries, dance manuals and other writings have touted the health benefits of dancing, usually as physical exercise.  More recently we've seen research on further health benefits of dancing, such as stress reduction and increased serotonin level, with its sense of well-being.

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Then most recently we've heard of another benefit:  Frequent dancing apparently makes us smarter.  A major study added to the growing evidence that stimulating one's mind can ward off Alzheimer's disease and other dementia, as much as physical exercise can keep the body fit.  Dancing also increases cognitive acuity at all ages.​