Linus Pauling once said, “Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.” But when was the last time you pursued something new because you were curious or learned something you didn’t previously know? According to new research published in PLOS One, pursuing your curiosity as an older adult may not only give you interesting new insights and ideas but may also protect your brain.

Curiosity is already known to be a valuable trait for brain health. According to a recent post in Big Think, curiosity sets off the brain’s dopamine system, so that we feel good knowing that we will be rewarded with a new discovery. Curiosity is also known to help us learn more efficiently and to retain information related to our specific topic of interest, but also information unrelated to that specific area of inquiry. More generally speaking, curiosity is thought to promote neuroplasticity. There are 2 types of curiosity: “trait” curiosity, which is an inherent natural curiosity that some people have, and “state” curiosity, which is specific curiosity about a particular topic in which you have an interest. 

According to the team of researchers on this new study, which involved 1200 participants ranging in age between 20-84, while trait curiosity tends to decline across the lifespan, state curiosity can sharply increase after middle age into your later years, as people retire and have the time and opportunity to pursue new areas of interest. Furthermore, older adults who maintain this specific curiosity and are open to learning new things may protect their brains from Alzheimer’s as a result of their pursuit of new knowledge. In essence, curiosity does not necessarily fade as you age as long as you engage in material that interests you! Curious to find out more about this study? Open your notebooks and click here and here.

So, how do you keep your curiosity thriving into your later years? There are many options to pique your interest with new topics and courses if you are open to the opportunities. All across the country, colleges have programs affiliated with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute that are specifically geared toward attracting older students for interesting courses on college campuses. Here’s a list of all the colleges that host such programs. Kiplinger also has an updated list of free or cheap college opportunities for older adults in all 50 states. Online, there are a host of platforms that all make learning easy and engaging for seniors. For example, Road Scholar has a comprehensive online program for “lifelong learners” that offers you education and insights on a broad range of topics and ideas, including virtual travel, lectures, classes, and research studies. SeniorSite has a comprehensive post of the Best Online Courses for Older Adults to stay engaged, including the chart below, comparing and contrasting the features of each:

Finally, MasterClass, an agebuzz advertiser, provides opportunities for you to take thousands of fascinating courses taught by some of the world’s leading experts, for as little as $10 a month. To find out more, buckle your backpack and look here.