Go Back to School for Your Brain Health

Learning something genuinely new can challenge your thinking, support cognitive reserve, and may help reduce dementia risk. No report card required.

The kids and grandkids are back in school. Perhaps it is your turn.

One factor you can influence is how often your brain is asked to learn, adapt, remember, and solve unfamiliar problems.

The important word is unfamiliar.

Repeating an activity you already know may keep your mind engaged, but learning something new asks your brain to work differently. It requires attention, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and sometimes coordination, all while you are still trying to remember where you left your reading glasses.

Why New Learning Matters

In a study of more than 10,000 adults age 70 and older, activities such as taking classes, using a computer, writing, playing games, and completing challenging puzzles were associated with a lower risk of dementia.

Another large study of adult education found that people who participated in classes had better retention of fluid intelligence, which helps us reason through unfamiliar problems.

These studies cannot prove that education prevents dementia. They do support continued learning as a meaningful way to challenge the brain and contribute to cognitive reserve.

Give Your Brain More Than One Route

Think of cognitive reserve as your brain’s collection of possible routes.

If you travel the same familiar road every day, you become very efficient at using that road. But if a roadblock appears, it helps to know another way around.

Learning varied new skills challenges the brain to use different combinations of attention, memory, language, reasoning, movement, and problem-solving. Research on novel skill learning suggests that learning new abilities in middle and later life may support cognitive and everyday functioning.

This does not mean that learning Spanish or playing the piano creates a guaranteed detour around dementia. It means that varied cognitive challenges may help the brain become more flexible and build cognitive reserve in case you need it in the future.

It Is Not Too Late to Learn

I returned to school at age 60 for my doctorate. It was a bucket-list item whose turn had finally come.

I cannot claim that my brain reverted to its 21-year-old version. It was, however, regularly required to absorb new information, solve problems, write papers, meet deadlines, and remember an alarming number of passwords.

Going back to school is only one option. The goal is to choose something that stretches your abilities beyond your usual routine.

You might:

• Study a new language

• Learn to play an instrument

• Take a dance class

• Write a book or family history

• Learn a new art or craft

• Take a writing or public-speaking course

• Learn the skills needed for a career or volunteer role

• Become more comfortable with new technology

Crosswords and Sudoku can certainly be part of the mix. But if you have completed the same type of puzzle for years, you are primarily practicing a familiar skill.

Keep the Sudoku if you enjoy it. Just do not ask it to carry your entire brain-health plan.

Choose the Right Challenge

Look for an activity that is:

New

Choose something you do not already know how to do. Novelty requires your brain to pay attention and adapt.

Challenging

The activity should require practice, concentration, and some problem-solving. If you can do it automatically while planning dinner, add another level of difficulty or try something different.

Varied

Activities that combine several skills can provide a broader challenge. Dancing, for example, may involve memory, movement, balance, timing, and social interaction.

Repeatable

One heroic afternoon with a Spanish textbook is unlikely to create a lasting habit. A class, weekly lesson, or scheduled practice time provides structure and a reason to continue.

Enjoyable enough to continue

You are allowed to abandon the accordion if you discover that you dislike both the instrument and everyone within hearing distance.

Where to Begin

Look for opportunities through:

• A community college or university

• Your local library

• A recreation or senior center

• A YMCA or community organization

• An art, music, or dance studio

• An online course or tutorial

• A knowledgeable friend who enjoys teaching

Need somewhere to start?

• Find an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute near you for university-affiliated courses and learning communities designed for adults age 50 and older.

• Explore hundreds of free, self-paced courses through OpenLearn from The Open University.

• Search Class Central to compare online courses from universities and learning platforms around the world.

• Visit Senior Planet for free classes designed to help older adults learn new technology and other practical skills.

In-person learning may also provide social connection, another important part of brain health. Online learning is equally valid when it fits your schedule, mobility, interests, or preference for staying home.

One Simple Action

Choose one thing you do not currently know how to do.

Today, spend 10 minutes finding one class, lesson, tutorial, or person who could help you begin. You do not have to earn another degree.

You simply need to give your brain a new route to explore.

References

1. Wu Z, Pandigama DH, Wrigglesworth J, et al. Lifestyle Enrichment in Later Life and Its Association With Dementia Risk. JAMA Network Open. 2023;6(7):e2323690.

2. Takeuchi H, Taki Y, Nouchi R, et al. Effects of Adult Education on Cognitive Function and Risk of Dementia in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 2023;15:1212623.

3. Rodriguez TM, Sheffler P, Ferguson LE, Rebok GW, Wu R. Cognitive and Functional Improvement via Novel Skill Learning for Low-Income Minoritized Middle-Aged and Older Adults. Prevention Science. 2023;24(5):926–935.

This article is for educational and informational purposes. It does not replace individualized medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. See the complete Disclaimer.