If you have Parkinson’s disease, experts say you should be dancing. Here’s why – CBC

Dance found to improve mental abilities, boost mood and improve movement

Feb 16, 2026

Though she’s always danced, Barbara Salsberg Mathews found a more urgent reason to take classes a few years ago.

“I just thought, ‘I better break out and start dancing, because Parkinson’s can’t stop me from dancing,'” said Salsberg Mathews, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020.

Over the years, as symptoms of muscle weakness and stiffness have settled into her body, the 67-year-old says dance makes her feel like herself again.

“When I’m lost in the music, so to speak, I feel freer, my range and fluidity of my movement just comes right back,” she said.

And growing evidence suggests that dance can help slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. It’s because of that research that experts are launching a national online arts hub that aims to connect Parkinson’s patients across Canada to different programs, like singing and dancing.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/dancing-parkinsons-guelph-project-9.7089359