Dance-based exercise for healthy brain aging in older adults: integrating neuroplasticity, cognitive reserve, physical fitness, social engagement, and mental well-being

Population aging brings rising difficulties associated with cognitive deterioration, diminished physical capabilities, social isolation, and increased susceptibility to mental health problems. Finding accessible, multidomain approaches to promote healthy brain aging has become a major priority. Dance-based exercise is a distinctive form of physical activity that combines aerobic movement, motor coordination, cognitive involvement, social interaction, and emotional expression. Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have largely quantified isolated physical or cognitive outcomes following dance interventions. However, an accurate understanding of healthy brain aging requires synthesizing how these separate domains interact. This narrative review adds to the current literature by providing an integrated conceptual framework that connects the neurobiological, physical, and psychosocial dimensions of dance-based exercise. Rather than pooling isolated effect sizes, we examine theoretical mechanisms (e.g., task-specific neuroplasticity and cognitive reserve) that plausibly link multidomain elements of dance to brain aging; these mechanisms are primarily hypothesis-generating in the context of existing dance trials. This narrative review examines the potential mechanisms by which dance-based exercise may support healthy brain aging in older adults, emphasizing neuroplasticity, cognitive reserve, physical fitness, social participation, and psychological well-being. The evidence available indicates that dance-based interventions may be linked to gains in cognitive functioning, especially executive abilities and attention, along with improvements in balance, mobility, and functional performance. In addition, the social and enjoyable character of dance may help foster better psychological outcomes and emotional well-being, although current evidence specifically concerning loneliness remains mixed. However, differences across study designs, intervention protocols, participant characteristics, and outcome measures constrain the ability to draw definitive conclusions about causality and the most effective intervention parameters. New evidence suggests that dance-based exercise may offer a promising multidomain strategy for strengthening resilience and supporting brain health throughout aging. Further rigorously designed longitudinal studies and randomized controlled trials are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, determine which populations are most responsive, and develop evidence-based guidance for incorporating dance-based interventions into healthy aging and geriatric mental health approaches.