Dance training superior to physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity (2018)

Study scope and limitations

• Several commenters note the full title stresses “repetitive” exercise and “in the elderly”, criticizing the HN headline as overgeneralized.
• Participants were 63–80 years old, with dance involving constantly learning new, harder choreographies; the control group did repetitive exercises with low coordination demands.
• Some argue the result is “obvious”: adding mentally demanding learning on top of matched physical intensity should boost plasticity more than simple cardio or machines.
• Others question whether results generalize to younger adults or to more complex, skill-based sports.

Methodological skepticism

• Commenters with MRI/statistics background doubt the robustness of small structural brain changes over 6 months with this sample size.
• Concerns include tiny brain clusters, weak p‑values (e.g., BDNF around 0.046), possible multiple-comparisons issues, and limited behavioral differences (both groups improved similarly in attention and spatial memory).
• Some suspect non‑replicability and “neuroplasticity” being used too vaguely.

What might matter: complexity and learning

• Many suggest the key factor is continuous learning and complex coordination, not “dance” per se.
• Proposed equivalents: martial arts (esp. with kata/forms or BJJ problem‑solving), boxing/Olympic lifting, trail running on uneven terrain, balance training, skating/rollerblading, timing-based VR games, DDR/Beat Saber.
• The pattern: tasks that combine cardiovascular effort with balance, timing, spatial awareness, and ongoing skill acquisition.

Social and emotional components

• Dance is seen as inherently social and often partner‑based, adding touch, synchrony, and community, which are independently associated (in other research, per commenters) with mental health benefits.
• Several anecdotes describe dramatic improvements in mood, sociability, and life satisfaction in older dancers.
• Some argue social dynamics and close contact are major contributors; others note they can also be a source of anxiety or rejection.

Anecdotes and subjective effects

• Multiple participants report better proprioception, balance, musical analysis, and general “mental ease” after dance, martial arts, or balance-heavy sports.
• Others share long-lived, cognitively sharp relatives who danced or gardened extensively, highlighting that many engaging, embodied hobbies might help.

Practical takeaways in the thread

• Many emphasize that “the best exercise is the one you’ll stick with.”
• A common synthesis: choose activities that are physically demanding, cognitively complex, and ideally social—dance is one strong example among several.