KEEPING THE MIND ENGAGED AND THE SENSES SHARP

Is it ever too late to learn something new?

I am writing this article in the hopes of stimulating or prompting each of us to keep ourselves active, not only physically as we walk about the Halcyon complex, but intellectually as we attend a evening gardening course, go to the gym or do both by enjoying a round of golf.

For many years throughout my career, I have been actively engaged in developing and delivering educational programs for both younger and older adults, programs designed not only to broaden their fields of learning, but also to help them move purposefully toward chosen career paths. Each initiative, without exception, began with careful research: identifying needs, assessing gaps, and ensuring the learning experience was both relevant and meaningful.

Included in this article are research points both learned and taught to participants in the Self-Management BC programs which included Healthy Living With Chronic Conditions, Healthy Living With Chronic Pain and Diabetes Management.

Research, including studies right here in Canada, suggests for adults over 50, continuing education and lifelong learning are not simply enjoyable pastimes, they may be among the most powerful tools we have to support healthy aging.

From neuroscience labs (studying how and why the brain works) to long-term population studies (why people do what people do), researchers are increasingly clear: staying mentally engaged matters.

Let us be honest, many of us can remember phone numbers from 1978 but occasionally forget why we walked into the kitchen. That is not failure; that’s selective memory. The encouraging news is that the brain responds remarkably well when we give it something new and interesting to chew on.

What the Research Tells Us

Scientists studying cognitive aging often refer to the concept of “cognitive reserve.” This term describes the brain’s ability to adapt and compensate for age-related changes. The more mentally stimulating experiences we accumulate across the lifespan, education, complex work, reading, music, problem-solving, the stronger this reserve appears to be.

Research summarized by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) supports the idea that intellectually engaging activities may help maintain thinking skills as we grow older. Findings from the Harvard Medical School show that novel learning, especially when it requires effort and active participation, strengthens neural connections.

Canadian researchers are part of this global picture. The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of aging in the country, tracks thousands of adults aged 45–85. Its findings consistently show that higher levels of cognitive activity, such as learning new skills and engaging in complex mental tasks, are associated with stronger cognitive performance and better overall quality of life.

At the (my alma mater) University of British Columbia, researchers studying brain health have found that activities combining mental challenge and social engagement appear especially beneficial.

All of this is possible because of neuroplasticity, the brain’s lifelong ability to reorganize and form new pathways. Once thought to be limited to childhood, we now know that the adult brain continues to change in response to challenge and learning.

In other words, the brain is less like a concrete sidewalk and more like a well-used garden path, the more often you walk it (or create new ones), the clearer the trail becomes.

Why Learning Matters After 50

As we age, it’s natural to notice small changes in memory, processing speed, or recall. But evidence suggests that staying mentally active may help slow some aspects of cognitive decline.

Lifelong learning appears to support:

• Attention and focus (i.e. driving a car or golfing)
• Memory retention (i.e. what groceries to buy)
• Problem-solving skills (i.e. paying our monthly bills)
• Processing speed (i.e. thinking on the spot)
• Emotional well-being (i.e. well, I will let you figure this one out)

Importantly, it is not passive activity that seems to help most. Watching television or scrolling through news feeds does not offer the same stimulation as learning a new language, studying art history, mastering digital photography, or joining a discussion-based class.

The difference lies in active engagement. That effort is what builds and maintains neural networks.

It’s Not Just the Brain — It is the Whole Person

Learning later in life supports emotional and social health as well.

Studies from the Canadian Psychological Association note that purposeful engagement, feeling that one is still growing and contributing, is associated with improved life satisfaction and lower levels of depression in older adults.

Group-based learning environments offer an additional benefit: connection. Talking, debating, laughing, and sharing curiosity are themselves forms of mental stimulation. Social interaction is strongly linked to better cognitive outcomes, a finding supported both internationally and in Canadian research.

If learning were only for the young, we would not have grandparents mastering smartphones, streaming services, being gardening experts, and online banking, sometimes with more patience than their grandchildren.

The “Use It or Lose It” Principle

While that phrase may oversimplify the science, there is some truth behind it. Underused cognitive skills tend to decline more rapidly.

The good news? Improvement is possible at any age. Studies of adults in their 60’s, 70’s, and even 80’s show measurable gains in reasoning, memory strategies, and problem-solving after participating in a structured learning program.

No activity can guarantee prevention of dementia or eliminate normal aging, but consistent mental challenge appears to support independence longer.

The takeaway? Challenge matters more than age.

Five Brain-Boosting Activities You Can Start This Month

Think of this as a “menu for the mind.” No calories, no cholesterol, just neural nutrition.

1. Learn a new language (or even some words or phrases) or musical instrument
   Language learning strengthens memory, attention, and multitasking skills.
2. Join a discussion group or book club
   Combines complex thinking with social connection, a powerful brain-health combination.
3. Take a course or workshop
   Elder College, Sardis Seniors, community seminars, or online lectures introduce current ideas and stretch your thinking.
4. Play strategic games
   Chess, bridge, and other strategy-based games activate reasoning and planning skills.
5. Try a creative pursuit
   Writing, painting, photography, journalling, or storytelling require planning, pattern recognition, and reflection.

Warning: Side effects may include lively dinner conversations, unexpected curiosity, and the occasional urge to say, “Did you know…?”

Beyond Cognition: A Sense of Purpose

Retirement brings welcome freedom, but it can also remove structured roles built: over decades. Continuing education offers something subtle but powerful: forward motion.

Instead of looking backward at what we’ve done, learning invites us to ask: What’s next?

Canadian research consistently finds that individuals engaged in purposeful, growth-oriented activities report higher life satisfaction and a stronger sense of identity.

That shift in mindset may be as important as any neurological (or brain) benefit.

We cannot stop time. But we can influence how we travel through it.

The research is encouraging; curiosity does not retire at 50. In fact, it may become one of our most valuable companions.

So perhaps the better question is not, “Am I too old to learn something new?”

It is: “What would I like to export next?“