I'm usually a big procrastinator, but I already have an idea for my New Year's resolution, thanks to a story on ABC News Dec. 3. A North Carolina church is working with Duke University to explore ways of combating Alzheimer's disease. The older members of the church are learning new skills, such as horseback riding, playing guitar and speaking Spanish. The Duke researchers believe that staying mentally and physically active may stave off the disease.


They report that the church members who are taking part in the project already seem more "spry and engaged and happy."

My mother suffered from dementia, probably due to Alzheimer's, so staying spry and engaged and happy sounds good to me. I was further inspired by this story of a 73-year-old college basketball player. I'm fairly sure that basketball is not my game, and I don't have access to a horse, but I am sure that a new activity would be good for me. I'd like to find something that I could share with my grandchildren. Any suggestions?

This post is part of the All About Parenting Blog Carnival for January. If you're a mommy blogger, or a grandpa blogger, or any variety of a family blogger, we'd like for you to participate. If you're new to the idea of a blog carnival, read blog carnival basics here. And come on down!