Neuroscience research and other investigations into the brain's function have yielded important clues in recent years about why active older people often do better overall, Foster explains.

"Social activities are important to the elderly because it stimulates their activities, and their brain function," he notes. And social interaction with other people or involvement in new mind-based activities prompts the brain to function in new ways as people express their internal thoughts. Studies on these effects and more are under way at U-M, led by Foster and his colleagues. Many are open to U-M Geriatrics Center patients.

More research will be needed to see if a clear long-term physical effect can be shown to back up observations made across groups of older people, Foster adds, but today's seniors don't need to wait for scientific proof of a specific effect to reap the general benefits of staying active.

Volunteer work is a great option for older people looking to stimulate their brains, Foster says. "It gives them an opportunity to interact with people in other age groups and outside their family, it stimulates interest, and it can be a great help to the community," he explains.

Kathryn Flynn, 91 years old, has taken that message to heart. Along with participating in the same writing class as Mildred McGregor, she volunteered to help Turner Center staff compile a directory of services and activities for seniors in the Ann Arbor area, and helps spread the word about U-M groups to others in her age range.

"If you just sit around and don't do anything, I consider that very boring," she laughs. "I can't speak for everybody, because maybe some people enjoy just resting, but I think you can do too much of that. People should keep active and do the things that they enjoy, possibly some things that they weren't able to do when they were employed -- even start new careers if that's the way they want to go."

Another Turner volunteer, 78-year-old Elza Bryan, keeps going with her writing and her Michigan Committee for the Blind work despite vision problems that have left her legally blind. "My brain is much more lively now, so to say, because I have to really think and there is now a goal of what I want to do," she explains. She's also writing an account of her time growing up in Latvia, her father's experiences in World War I, and her own memories of World War II, so that her grown children and granddaughter can share their family history.

Although some seniors might see their existing health or transportation problems as obstacles to getting involved in activities, Foster notes that there are many options available. "Even people with physical disabilities can keep mentally active by doing crossword puzzles, reading the newspaper, keeping involved in social activities, and taking advantage of public transportation," he says, adding that classes, cards, chess and conversation all count as brain stimulators.

Something as simple as moderate movement around the house can help keep muscles and balance going, and physical activity like regular walking can help keep diabetes and heart disease in check. And for those who can't drive, many communities have senior transport programs to get people to activity centers, educational institutions and shopping.

For those already facing memory loss, it's especially crucial to keep going, Foster says. "People who have memory problems tend to withdraw from activities, so it's particularly important that they be involved in social activities and things that are interesting. Some have called dementia the 'most boring' of all diseases to have, so it's important to get these people involved."

All in all, instead of seeing age-related memory loss and disability as inevitable, older adults should see their mental and physical health as very much within their own control, Foster says. Those who take on the challenge of keeping occupied may be surprised at what they can achieve.

"Overall, it's important for elderly individuals to learn more activities, and do things that they haven't tried before," he concludes. "This is an opportunity to take risks and explore things that they haven't had time to do before. In our usual activities as adults, we spend so much time just working at our jobs that we have trouble looking beyond the horizon, or finding time to explore other parts of our personality. Aging permits us that opportunity."

Facts about aging, memory loss and staying active: