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If you miss dancing at the disco or you find yourself hankering for the hustle, it’s never too late to get your groove back. And if nostalgia isn’t enough to get you back on the dance floor,

consider these five health benefits dance has for older adults, as well as tips on how to get started.  BOOSTS BRAIN FUNCTION. There is some promise that dancing might help ward off

dementia, says Joe Verghese, director of cognitive and motor aging at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Preliminary studies point to possible benefits. As a social, physical and mental

activity, dance provides cognitive stimulation, which may enhance memory. HELPS KEEP A HEALTHY HEART. Dance, like any physical activity, is great for your heart, says Audrey Chun, M.D., a

professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine at Mount Sinai. “Endurance and aerobic activity are really good for cardiovascular health,” Chun says. “Dance is targeting both of those

because you’re moving and getting your heart pumping.” BETTERS BONE HEALTH. Improving bone health is another benefit of dancing — especially since bone mineral density peaks in our mid-20s

and then starts to decrease, says Ramsey Shehab, M.D., 47, the deputy chief of sports medicine at Henry Ford Health. Women, in particular, see a dramatic drop once they hit 50, he adds.

Older adults should be concerned with their bone mineral density, since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years

and older.” In fact, Shehab sees “a ton” of elderly hip fractures from falls — many of which lead to a significant decrease in quality of life. Matt Black/Magnum Photos Weight-bearing

exercises like dance help you “sustain muscle mass and protect the bones that are vulnerable to losing density,” Shehab says. CREATES CORE STRENGTH. Shehab says dance uses a great deal of

core strength — a great part of the body to work for aging adults. “We know core strength is kind of the central basis for building strength in extremities,” Shehab says. “Everything comes

from the core.”