Frequent dancing causes a 76% reduction in the risk of dementia.
No, actually, it doesn't. This is an observational study of two variables, which means it can't tell which direction the causality goes, or whether there's a common cause. And it's quite obviously a common cause: poor health makes people disinclined to dance.
It's possible that there's still some beneficial effects from dancing, but the study does not show them, and the effect sizes won't be anything near 76%.
This is one of the things I find astounding around here.
People here are so quick to poo poo the evidence afforded by anything but double blinded placebo controlled studies, and then turn right around and make claims with no backing at all. And a bunch of people mod them up for it.
You know that "it's quite obviously a common cause". And you know that the effect can't be "anywhere near 76%"? On the basis of what do you claim to know these things?
Frequent dancing causes a 76% reduction in the risk of dementia. The benefit seems to be from freestyle social dancing, though I don't think that part is as well-verified. The benefit seems to be from making large numbers of quick decisions.
I wonder if playing jazz has similar good effects.
For something a little geekier, Shiva Nata, a system of keeping the mind fresh by doing more and more complex movements. The author of the blog is a silly person, but the system seems to be for real.
Edited to correct html which was entered in the text field instead of the html field. It wouldn't surprise me if having to deal with electronics and computers tends to prevent dementia, considering the number of fiddly and changing details one has to deal with. Or is fun required?