Learn new skills as an older adult

About the author

With more than 40 years of expertise in helping people age well, Hilary O’Connell is LiveUp’s Principal Advisor for Healthy Ageing.

Originally from the UK, Hilary’s career has encompassed work as a clinician, manager, and project leader across the disability and aged care sectors.

The process of learning begins when you’re born and continues your whole life. But we tend to associate learning more with children than we do with older adults.

You may have heard the phrase, 'You can’t teach an old dog new tricks', which means it’s impossible to learn new things at an advanced age.

This is a myth!

There's no age limit to learning

Ageing is associated with structural and functional changes in the brain. Some changes in cognition are normal with age, such as slower reaction times and reduced problem-solving abilities. Age-related diseases will also speed this up.

However, your cumulative knowledge and experiential skills don't just fade away. In fact, many older adults outperform their younger counterparts on intelligence tests that draw on these skills.

Your brain maintains its ability to grow new cells and adapt. That means you can keep learning no matter your age. Doing so can even delay age-related decline.

What makes children good learners?

We know children have great capacity for learning. They're motivated do so (they want to learn) and lack the shame adults may feel about not already knowing all the answers. We also expect children to learn, and they know this. We make many efforts to encourage their learning.

But what if we recreate these conditions for adults? If we encourage their learning and express optimism for their ability? It appears, in that case, adults can show similar capability. 

Adults can also be good learners

Older adults are capable of learning multiple skills at the same time, according to a study last updated in 2023. It's not only possible, but beneficial too. Learning these skills was found to increase cognitive abilities to performance levels rivalling middle-aged adults.

The authors say a follow up study showed participants had maintained these gains. In fact, they had even improved more. After 1 year, their cognitive abilities began to rival adults 50 years younger. Possibly because they had learnt how to learn and felt empowered to keep up the practice.

The practice of learning new things has increasing returns in confidence and capability.

Learning has many benefits

Expanding your skill set has a wide range of advantages. Whether it's for professional development or personal satisfaction, your health will likely also benefit.

Skill development and lifelong learning can support your brain as well as your mental, social, and emotional wellbeing.

Brain health benefits

Learning has the benefit of exercising your brain. This means it helps you build your cognitive reserve. This makes you more resilient to cognitive decline and diseases such as dementia. It helps strengthen neural connections, improving your memory.

Social benefits

Learning also creates opportunities to socialise. You can join a club and discuss your new knowledge with others. For healthy ageing, it's important to keep connected with your community.

Emotional benefits

Learning gives you feelings of accomplishment and helps you develop a growth mindset. This can help you stay adaptable in an ever-changing world. It can make it easier to embrace new technologies. It can help you overcome difficult challenges. It makes you feel good about yourself, and it inspires others. 

You can learn how to learn

Through practice, you can gain something transferable about the learning process. This is demonstrated by the fact that older adults can learn to learn new motor skills. What this means is that learning is a skill you can learn along the way. And like any other skill, practice makes perfect.

In other words, learning new skills helps you to learn other skills more efficiently.

This could be part of what makes kids so good at learning. The fact they spend so much time doing it. It explains why children backslide in their academic progress after long school breaks. Even children can get out of practice when it comes to learning.

But when you’re an adult, especially an older one, people aren’t pressuring you as much to go to school anymore.

So, what can you do to take charge of your own learning?

Tips to get the most out of learning

Learn about what interests you

You could take in-person or online courses in your spare time. Follow your curiosity and study what you find interesting and fun. Everyone is different, so be sure to explore to find what's right for you.

Here are a few ideas for interesting things you may want to learn:

• You could Join a dance class or sport team to learn a new sport.
• You could take an online course in any subject, from art history to basic coding.
• You could take a cooking class and learn the basics of a new cuisine.
• You could find a board games club and learn the rules to new games regularly.
• You could even learn to play some video games with your grandchildren. It seems there’s a positive relationship between play time and cognitive performance, according to a 2023 study.

Learn about unfamiliar things

It’s good to pick up new hobbies. Consider taking lessons in a musical instrument or start learning a foreign language. Or you could pick up a new physical skill, like archery! The more challenging and unknown to you, the better.

Being challenged by a new skill is better for your brain than doing something you’re already good at.

A 2021 study found that white matter neuroplasticity is modulated by novel experiences. That means introducing strange new things makes your brain more adaptable.

In a 2015 study, older people learned high-challenge skills in photography and quilting. The benefits recorded included improvements in memory, attention, and semantic processing. Some benefits were observed to last for at least a year as well.

Exercise makes learning easier

So, there you have it. Learning about fun and unfamiliar things makes learning in general easier. But what else can you do to help your brain learn new things?

Keeping active is one thing you can do. Regular exercise is as good for your brain as it is for your body. And it relieves stress! Exercise helps release certain chemicals in your brain. These promote the growth of new brain cells and synapses.

You can learn more about exercise for healthy ageing and exercise tips for older people at LiveUp. 

You can start today

By picking up a new hobby or study habit, you can impact how well you age. Learning a new skill, at your own pace, is a fun way to improve your brain health at any age.

For ideas and inspiration, explore LiveUp's inspirational articles about older people actively living life on their own terms.

If you would like to find local exercise classes, social activities, and helpful tips, take the LiveUp quiz or get in touch with one of our helpful team today on 1800 951 971.

For some online independent study options, you can also check out U3A Online.

References

Galvan, V., & Jin, K. (2007). Neurogenesis in the aging brain. Clinical interventions in aging, 2(4), 605–610. https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s1614

Leanos, S., Kürüm, E., Strickland-Hughes, C. M., Ditta, A. S., Nguyen, G., Felix, M., Yum, H., Rebok, G. W., & Wu, R. (2023). The impact of learning multiple real-world skills on cognitive abilities and functional independence in healthy older adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 78(8), 1305-1317. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbad053

Martinez, L., Gimenes, M., & Lambert, E. (2023). Video games and board games: Effects of playing practice on cognition. PloS one, 18(3), e0283654. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283654

McDonough, I. M., Haber, S., Bischof, G. N., & Park, D. C. (2015). The Synapse Project: Engagement in mentally challenging activities enhances neural efficiency. Restorative neurology and neuroscience, 33(6), 865–882. https://doi.org/10.3233/RNN-150533

Molendowska, M., Matuszewski, J., Kossowski, B., Bola, Ł., Banaszkiewicz, A., Paplińska, M., Jednoróg, K., Draganski, B., & Marchewka, A. (2021). Temporal dynamics of brain white matter plasticity in sighted subjects during tactile Braille learning: A longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging study. Journal of Neuroscience, 41(33), 7076-7085. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2242-20.2021

Murman D. L. (2015). The Impact of Age on Cognition. Seminars in hearing, 36(3), 111–121. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1555115

Pauwels, L., Chalavi, S., & Swinnen, S. P. (2018). Aging and brain plasticity. Aging, 10(8), 1789–1790. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.101514

Robson, D. (2017, August 28). The amazing fertility of the older mind. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170828-the-amazing-fertility-of-the-older-mind

Seidler, R. D. (2007). Older adults can learn to learn new motor skills. Behavioural Brain Research, 183(1), 118-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2007.05.024

Wu, R., & Church, J. A. (2023, June 29). To stay sharp as you age, learn new skills. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com

How to use this information

LiveUp provides free information to help you make informed decisions about your health. This information is for general and educational purposes only, is not intended to provide a comprehensive guide, and does not replace medical advice. Everyone is different, so some of these tips may work better for you than others. You should use your own judgment and seek medical advice when applying this information to yourself, to determine if it is suitable in your circumstances. Your use of, or reliance on, this information is solely at your own risk. Independent Living Assessment Incorporated is not responsible or liable for any injury, loss, or damage caused as a result of your use of, or reliance on, this information.

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