Study finds dance more effective than antidepressants and walking for depression relief

Summary

This article discusses scientific research showing that dance is more effective than walking, yoga, strength training, and even standard antidepressants for alleviating depression symptoms. It cites a 2024 review published in the BMJ that analyzed 218 clinical trials, finding dance to be superior for depression relief. The article features insights from neuroscientist Julia F. Christensen of the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Germany, who explains that the brain interprets dance gestures as expressive language and that dance functions as a form of group therapy. It notes that communities have intuitively used dance for healing and rituals for centuries, long before scientific research caught up.

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bskyStudy finds dance more effective than antidepressants and walking for depression reliefnikkei.com