Byun Seong-wook, left, and his wife take a K-pop dance class in Seoul, July 23. Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong

Six months ago, Byun Seong-wook, 63, welcomed his mother-in-law, who has dementia, to his home in Seoul.

As he watched his wife care for her mother, who is in her 90s, Byun, a retired businessperson, began to think about his own future. "I realized there's no guarantee that I won't develop dementia," he said.

With this concern in mind, he searched for information about dementia and three months later, he joined a K-pop dance class offered at a local library.

"During my research, I learned that dancing helps stimulate rarely used nevers and can help prevent dementia," he said. "Also, I've never danced in my life, and I've always wanted to learn."

His wife also joined him in the classes.

In the weekly class of six students, he is the oldest and the only man. "I don't mind so much. I am here to prevent dementia."

Yet, he is the most dedicated student in the class. He records the classes and practices the moves at home.

"I practice for almost one hour every day," he said. "The most challenging thing is to coordinate my brain with arms and legs."

Dementia is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by cognitive disabilities that affect memory, thinking and behavior. It is difficult not only for the patients but also for caregivers and families, as it leads to increasing dependency in daily life.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people worldwide currently have dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases reported every year. Women are more susceptible to dementia than men.

In Korea, almost 10 percent of people aged 65 or older have dementia, according to a 2021 report by the National Institute of Dementia.

According to the Korean Association for Dementia, dance is among many activities that can help reduce the risk of dementia.

"When you try to coordinate your body and brain, it feels like solving a very difficult math problem. But I am happy to take the dance class and see my body movements improving," Byun said.