Over the years we’ve published regular posts on ways to keep your brain sharp and cognition strong through various types of stimulation, be they puzzles, college courses, or even just staying curious. What all of these have in common is not so much formal memorization of facts but rather, the learning that comes from taking up a new challenge, acquiring a new skill or hobby, or in some other way engaging your mind in something novel and stimulating. In essence, learning- something you are likely to do every day without even being aware you are doing so- is critical for our brains: As one recent article from Vox stated, “Learning changes the brain: Existing bonds between neurons — nerve cells that send messages signaling everything from breathing to thinking — are strengthened; new pathways between neurons are developed. Repeated exposure to an activity, like knitting or driving a car, strengthens these connections, and thus, we learn.” More importantly, perhaps, the experientially-acquired learning you get from trying something new- and perhaps at first failing- is an essential part of the learning process. Your brain is strengthened when you adjust your approach after initially making a mistake. In essence, all learning, no matter how acquired, is valuable for brain health.

In fact, in a new article in The Atlantic entitled The New Old Age, writer David Brooks highlights older adults who have gone back to “school” i.e., programs run at major universities to help older adults transition from retirement to a new phase of life (we previously featured a post about the program at Stanford) and many of them feel liberated by the chance to make mistakes and learn something completely new at a later stage of their life. Says one participant, “It’s all about putting myself in situations in which I know nothing. I can fail big. Who gives a shit? I’m 64.” While not many of us have the luxury to spend the time and money at expensive “gap year” programs to help us figure out what we want to pursue in our post-retirement lives, there is something valuable in being put in a classroom with peers in similar situations and challenging your mind and brain to consider new ideas and new skills.

But given we are in “back to school” season (which some suggest is an effective way to organize your life and accomplish goals, even if you’re not actually a student taking classes) it’s also valuable to know that adult education classes do appear to lower your risk for dementia. In a new study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, scientists from Japan, analyzing data from over 280,000 participants from the UK Biobank (ages 40-69) found that those who took adult education classes had a 19% lower risk of developing dementia 5 years later compared to those who did not take such classes. While this was an observational study and did not prove causation, it appears from the data that adult education is associated with better preservation of nonverbal reasoning as people grow older. It’s hypothesized that adult education may increase cognitive reserve and brain plasticity, thus allowing the brain to adapt and cope with the damage posed by cognitive decline or other challenges. In essence, just as your body benefits from physical exertion and activity to help keep it stable and functioning as you get older, so too does your brain require stimulation and challenge to keep connections strong and cognition intact. 

So if you’re looking for some intellectual “workout” routines for your brain this fall, there are many online options for good adult education programs, either of academic-type courses or more broadly, new skill acquisition. You can always check your local continuing education program as well as those associated with local universities and colleges.  For a variety of well-recommended free options, look here, and for a list of the best adult online courses for 2023, pull out your notebook and click here.