Teaching tango to help slow effects of Alzheimer's

BANGOR, Maine (WPVI) -- If you watch Dancing with the Stars, you know the Tango is one of the most popular dances.

And now it's also getting attention from the medical community.

Husson University in Maine wanted to know if the tango can improve walking and thinking in people with early-stage Alzheimer's Disease.

Physical therapists think the constant practice, and the concentration needed for the combo of quick steps and slower movements might improve patient's abilities.

Lead researcher Suzanne Gordon says, "As we improve gait, do we make sure that our functional skills at home stay very independent, too?"

"And we are just checking to see - are they able to change their pace? Are they able to map out the directions for the dance?" says student researcher Amy Haskell.

The close contact during the tango also has positive emotional benefits, helping dancers feel better.

And couples taking the classes say it helps relieve the stress of Alzheimer's, too.