Lifelong Learning & Healthy Aging

Article submitted by Zane Robertson of Active Minds For Life. For further information, they can be reached through their website www.ActiveMindsForLife.com.

It used to be that most people thought of adult education as something people only did to change careers or to gain specific job skills. No longer.

It is now widely recognized that lifelong learning is a key component of healthy aging. According to recent research, people who continue to exercise their mind as they age are less likely to develop dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and a host of other cognitive impairments. In addition, several studies have linked lifelong learning to better physical and emotional health.

What exactly is going on here? Recently, scientists have extended their understanding of the aging brain by leaps and bounds due to the advances in brain imaging technologies. One of the things they have discovered is that the human brain is far more flexible than previously thought. When our mind is challenged by something new, it responds by creating a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical contributes to the creation of new brain cells and new neural pathways-something scientists call a "cognitive reserve." Building a cognitive reserve appears to provide us with a defense against disease and deterioration.
The benefits of exercising your mind have been demonstrated with as little as one additional mental activity per week. The key, however, is that the activity must be new to you. That which is new is difficult, and that which is difficult grows our brains. Recommended activities include attending lectures and seminars, doing crossword puzzles, participating in discussion groups, reading a book or the newspaper, learning a foreign language, playing a musical instrument, learning to dance the tango, travelling the world, and more. Activities that scientists have found yield little or no cognitive benefits include golf, babysitting, bowling, and watching TV. All things being equal, if possible, engage in challenging activities with other people. The social component is positively associated with brain and physical health as well.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” - Henry Ford

To be clear, healthy aging is more than just exercising your mind. Nutrition, exercise, sleep, and a variety of other factors play important roles as well. The significance of cognitive stimulation, however, has only been realized relatively recently. One measure of this is the advent of computer programs designed to provide mental workouts. In just the last few years, this market has grown from a couple of programs to dozens, with sales approaching $300 million per year.

Whether you use a computer or not, everyone has the opportunity to be a lifelong learner and benefit from the joy of learning as well as the exercise it provides your brain. A great place to start is your local library - see you there!

Zane Robertson is the President of Active Minds®, a Denver based provider of educational programs for seniors. He is a frequent speaker on lifelong learning and senior education and serves on the Denver Commission on Aging and the board of the Denver Coalition for Seniors. Active Minds programs are available in most Denver senior residential communities as well as a variety of public venues. For more information, contact Mr. Robertson at 303-320-7652 or visit www.ActiveMindsForLife.com.