At the Madison Senior Center downtown, members take modern dance classes, participate in social circle gatherings and book clubs.

“It isn’t a place to sit around and play cards or knit or just sit around,” said 80-year-old Reta Harring. “There’s so much going on.”

Aging experts said activities such as these will make a difference in the fight against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

“It is possible to exercise the brain muscle and enhance the cognitive fitness,” said Senior Center director Christine Beatty. “That’s good news and why it’s an important topic right now.”

“Mental leisure activities, occupational demands that are extremely demanding could help delay the effect of Alzheimer’s disease — then socializing with other people,” said UW Professor Thomas Fritsch.

Fritsch is currently researching the impact of the activity on the bodies and minds of baby boomers.

Fritsch is also behind the newest idea of memory loss clubs, which are groups that get together to fight age-related mental decline.

The National Alzheimer’s Association believes there are more than 5 million people currently living with the disease.

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