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Back to School: The Benefits of Lifelong Learning

September 3, 2024
Older person in college classroom

As a college student in the late 70s, I had many joyful experiences with older adults who audited the courses I was taking. These older students contributed fresh perspective and brought great energy.

I especially enjoyed a poetry writing class that included Bill, an 85-year-old widower and retired auto mechanic who had never had the opportunity to go to college. Through a fellow retiree, he had learned about auditing classes. He took to the opportunity like a duck to water.

Bill’s poetry was lyrical, soulful, and sweet. He took an “If you aren’t learning, you die” approach to life. We all benefitted from his attitude, curiosity, and presence.

This is when I became conscious of the concept of learning for the pure joy of it and began to embrace lifelong learning.

Lifelong learning is the ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge and mastering skills throughout life. And it has been found to be particularly beneficial to the brain as we age.

As Eric B. Larson, MD, and Joan DeClaire reflect in their book Enlightened Aging: Building Resilience for a Long, Active Life, “The brain is actually quite malleable and always changing—a concept known as brain plasticity. In fact, we now know the brain can grow new cells and form new connections… . This is welcome news for those studying brain health in the elderly—and for anybody who intends to grow old themselves. It means we can prevent or lessen problems like memory loss and dementia by focusing on mental, physical, and social activities that promote healthy brain development.” (Enlightened Aging is available from both The Seattle Public Library and King County Library System.)

Stimulating the brain with intellectual pursuits helps trigger new brain cell growth and builds new neural pathways. Our brains are designed to adapt, change, and grow.

To strengthen and flex your brain, try something new. Always wanted to play the piano? Start now! How about those salsa dancing lessons you’ve always dreamed of? Learn a new language, woodworking, jewelry making, quilting, memoir writing. Here’s your excuse to find a class and get started. The possibilities are endless.

There are additional benefits: Acquiring new skills. Understanding new concepts. Expanding one’s intellectual and practical capabilities. Personal enrichment.

Social engagement and social interaction are also important to brain health. Many outlets for expanding your intellectual horizons will include the opportunity for social engagement as well.

Research supports that individuals who stay socially engaged experience the slowest rates of cognitive decline. Something as simple as an in-person coffee and book chat with an old friend or brushing up on your Spanish speaking skills with others can do wonders to brighten your day, enhance your mood, and benefit your brain.

Learning is a continuous process, not something confined to a particular age or stage of life. It can enhance personal development, adaptability, and satisfaction throughout one’s life.

How do you plan to continue learning, growing, and thriving like Bill once did? Here are some ideas to get you started:

Live and Virtual Events and Programs

Programs at Area Senior and Community Centers

Programs and Resources at Area Libraries

Lifelong Learning through Colleges and Universities

Other outlets to explore

Keri PollackContributor Keri Pollock directs marketing and communications for Aging Wisdom, a care management and creative engagement practice based in Seattle. She was a member of the original Age Friendly Coalition for Seattle and King County and serves on the Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) Board.

This article appeared in the September 2024 issue of AgeWise King County.