Staying Involved Adds Fun to Age Frances Blakney is the first person guests meet when they come for lunch at the Martin Luther King Older Adult Center in Philadelphia. She dispenses information, meal tickets, support and enthusiasm, and receives pleasure in return. "I volunteer every day," says Ms. Blakney, 73. "I enjoy going to the center and being active. When I sit around, my bones get stiff and my mind isn't as fluid." Ms. Blakney is putting into practice the best information experts have for maintaining a high quality of life. Research suggests the more physically and mentally active you are, the fewer discomforts and disabilities you may face. The best part is that you can join in your favorite hobbies, have fun and age well at the same time. For example, dancing with a partner, playing an instrument with fellow musicians or playing a board game with a friend may reduce your risk for dementia. That's the conclusion of Joe Verghese, M.D., an assistant professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx , N.Y. In a long-term study of 469 mentally alert people over age 75, Dr. Verghese and colleagues noted those people who took part in leisure pastimes had a reduced risk for dementia. You may improve your cognitive skills by playing cards with your friends, according to Sidney Stahl, Ph.D., branch chief with the National Institute on Aging. Learning a new language or mastering a game gives you some advantages, but it's more important just to stay busy. "I don't have evidence that picking up new skills has benefits, but I do know that maintaining activities does enhance emotional and mental well-being," Dr. Stahl says. "I suspect that acquiring new skills might be beneficial as well."
More alert Other studies suggest that staying physically active can promote mental alertness by improving blood flow to the brain, Dr. Verghese says. If you keep moving, you're also less likely to succumb to illness, Dr. Stahl says. "The major problem is that people think there's a push to run three to four miles. It's not necessary. It's more essential to remain active, doing such things as walking." If you want something more exciting than a stroll, of course, you'll find plenty of options. Line dancing gets guests moving at Ms. Blakney's center.