Does learning new things help as you get older?
Yes. The brain keeps its ability to change and form new connections throughout life, and research shows older adults can still learn new skills, form new memories and expand their vocabulary. Learning something new also builds what researchers call cognitive reserve, a kind of resilience in the brain.
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks," as the saying goes. Whether that's true of dogs is another matter. For people, it's wrong.
Your brain can change throughout life
The US National Institute on Aging sums up the research like this: there's growing evidence that the brain keeps its ability to change and adapt, so it can handle new challenges and tasks as you get older. Specifically, research shows that older adults can still learn new skills, form new memories, expand their vocabulary and strengthen their language skills.
The brain does change with age. Some areas shrink a little, and signals between brain cells don't always travel as fast. That's why names sometimes take a while to come to you. But researchers also describe so-called "superagers," people in their 80s and 90s whose memory is as good as that of people decades younger. So how well your brain ages isn't entirely decided in advance.
Cognitive reserve: your brain's savings account
The researchers Barulli and Stern have written about an important idea: cognitive reserve. Roughly speaking, it's the brain's ability to find other routes when something weakens. Two people can have the same age-related changes in the brain, but the one who has kept their mind active throughout life notices them less, because their brain has more ways to solve a problem.
The encouraging part is that your reserve doesn't stop growing when you leave school. Education early in life helps, but an active life later on counts too. Every time you learn something new, you add to it.
What learning something new can look like
It doesn't have to be an evening class, although that's an excellent idea. It could be:
- A new recipe with steps you haven't done before.
- Learning new technology, like an AI assistant or video calls with your grandchildren.
- A new language, even if it's just ten words a week.
- A walk through a neighborhood you don't know.
- Reading up on a subject you've always been curious about, and asking all the questions you like.
The common thread is that it should be a little difficult. That small challenge is what gets the brain to form new connections. It also helps to learn alongside other people, because company and learning can reinforce each other.
This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.