Back to school: Learning a new skill can slow cognitive aging

Active aging involves more than moving your body. You also need to move your brain. "When you exercise, you engage your muscles to help improve overall health," says Dr. Ipsit Vahia, director of geriatric outpatient services for Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital. "The same concept applies to the brain. You need to exercise it with new challenges to keep it healthy."

A fun way to do this is to sharpen your No. 2 pencils and go back to school. "New brain cell growth can happen even late into adulthood," says Dr. Vahia. "The process of learning and acquiring new information and experiences, like through structured classes, can stimulate that process."

About 17% of adults older than age 35 are enrolled at a four-year college or university, or a community college, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. And because more campuses now offer free or discounted tuition for seniors (with no earned credits), there are more opportunities for older adults to explore a variety of subjects and interests.

"The focus is not to earn a degree, or even take multiple classes, but to focus on a class to keep mental activity thriving," says Dr. Vahia.

It does not have to be a traditional academic course either, he adds. "It can be about learning new skills, like speaking a foreign language, learning how to paint, or to play a musical instrument. You can even study how to improve current ones like fixing a car or becoming more computer-savvy."

Boosting brain power

Brain games (like puzzles and crosswords) and brain-training videos can improve working memory — the ability to remember and retrieve information, especially when distracted. But research has found that although they can help your brain get better at performing those activities, they do not expand other brain functions like reasoning and problem solving. "In comparison, classes offer a complexity factor that have long-term benefits," says Dr. Vahia. For instance, they engage cognitive skills, such as visual comprehension, short- and long-term memory, attention to detail, and even math and calculations.

Research has long shown that new knowledge pays off. For example, a study in the June 2014 issue of Annals of Neurology found speaking two or more languages, even if you learned the second language in adulthood, may slow age-related cognitive decline.

But class attendance is not enough. You need to get out of your comfort zone and challenge your mind for optimal results. A study published in Psychological Science examined adults ages 60 to 90 were assigned to either learn a complex skill like digital photography or quilting, both of which demand more use of working and long-term memory, or do simpler mental activities like crossword puzzles. After a three-month period, the "complex skill" group showed wide-range improvement in overall memory compared with the crossword puzzle group.

On a personal level, classes also keep your social skills sharp as well as boost self-confidence. "It is easy to become more socially isolated as people grow older," says Dr. Vahia. "A class makes you interact and communicate with other people on a regular basis through group participation, conversations, and discussions."

Time to enroll

Before you sign up for your first class, here are some guidelines to consider:

• Choose a subject you enjoy or are curious about. Civil War history? English literature? Astronomy? "Your choices are no longer dictated by the requirements to get a good grade and complete a degree, so you are free to pursue topics that spark your interest," says Dr. Vahia. "What are you interested in now, or wish you had explored at an earlier time?"
• Not interested in traditional subject classes? Focus on one with a self-improvement angle, like public speaking or creative writing.
• Begin with a weekly class, so you can ease into the environment and not feel overwhelmed.
• If you do not feel ready for a classroom setting, take an online class. "But make sure it offers some level of interaction with classmates through discussion boards," says Dr. Vahia.
• If your class does not meet your expectations, do not give up. Try a different type of class, format, or even instructor.