{"id":4474,"date":"2017-11-20T10:51:10","date_gmt":"2017-11-20T10:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/bloomfield-hills\/?p=4474"},"modified":"2017-11-20T10:51:10","modified_gmt":"2017-11-20T10:51:10","slug":"minimizing-memory-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/bloomfield-hills\/blog\/lifestyle-self-improvement\/minimizing-memory-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Minimizing Memory Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ron and Barb\u00a0<\/span>Luginbill<\/span>\u00a0are having more fun in retirement than they ever thought possible \u2013 and a good part of that is their weekly dancing date at Fred Astaire Dance Studio.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although they didn\u2019t realize it when they first started dancing 15 years ago, their ballroom hobby has been an important part of keeping them on their toes physically, and mentally too. Research shows that ballroom dance is a great way to ward off Alzheimer\u2019s and Dementia, according to studies by Stanford University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Barb\u2019s mom is 94 and battling Alzheimer\u2019s, so she\u2019s especially aware of the benefits of ballroom.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Research reveals that avid reading reduces risk of Dementia by 35 percent; doing crossword puzzles at least four days a week reduces risk by 47 percent; dancing frequently reduces risk of memory loss by a whopping 76 percent.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to be nimble when you dance,\u201d says Barb. \u201cIt helps your balance, and realizing what my mother\u2019s facing makes me want to do the best I can do.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>Luginbills<\/span>, ages 70 and 69, respectively, live in Troy and have two grown children and five grandchildren. They enjoy the camaraderie and challenge of FADS\u2019 weekly class for seniors, led by instructor Donald\u00a0<\/span>Westphal<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an absolute blast to work with the seniors,\u201d says\u00a0<\/span>Westphal<\/span>, who leads anywhere from 12 to 40 seniors every Tuesday. \u201cWe work on technique for balance and coordination as well as memory and cognition. I switch up regular patterns to build muscle memory and keep them on their toes. That way, they can be more aware while they\u2019re dancing, thinking through what we\u2019re doing for more cognitive engagement.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jon\u00a0<\/span>Petre<\/span>, 81, is another dance devotee. The Bloomfield Hills resident and retired tool-and-die manufacturer has been \u201cdancing all my life,\u201d first in his native Romania, and later when he \u201cran away from the Communists\u201d and lived in Italy and later still, after he emigrated to the United States. He grew up in a family of dancers and his first week in America in 1965, he found a dance at the American Polish Cultural Center and took to the parquet.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s been dancing at FADS for three years, coming every Tuesday and two Saturdays a month. \u201cDance keeps me happy,\u201d says\u00a0<\/span>Petre<\/span>. \u201cThe music stays with you.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Petre<\/span>\u00a0competes in dance competitions from time to time, taking home medals. \u201cI love everything about dance,\u201d he says. \u201cIt keeps your mind sharp.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch these TV segments we recently coordinated to showcase the long-term health benefits of ballroom dance!<\/span><\/p>\n