Learning multiple tasks led to cognition improvements that got better with the passage of time:
A set of recent studies demonstrates for the first time that learning multiple new tasks carries benefits for cognition long after the learning has been completed.
The finding affirms a long-held assertion of the lead researcher, Rachel Wu, who is an associate professor of psychology at UC Riverside. That is, older adults can learn new tasks and improve their cognition in the process, if they approach learning as a child does.
"Our findings provide evidence that simultaneously learning real-world skills can lead to long-term improvements in cognition during older adulthood," Wu and her colleagues wrote in a recently published paper in the journal Aging and Mental Health. "Overall, our findings promote the benefits of lifelong learning, namely, to improve cognitive abilities in older adulthood."
[...] For both studies, the participants learned at least three new skills, such as Spanish, using an iPad, photography, painting, and music composition over three months in a UC Riverside classroom for older adults. Cognitive tests were administered in a research lab before the start of the classes, halfway through the classes, and after three months of classes. There were then follow-up tests at three months, six months, and one year after the end of the classes.
[...] The overall cognitive scores at three months, six months, and one year after the intervention were significantly higher than before the intervention, more than three times higher by many measures. In fact, the more time that passed after the learning had ceased, the higher the scores grew.
"Remarkably, the cognitive scores increased to levels similar to undergraduates taking the same cognitive tests for the first time," Wu said. "Our finding of continuous cognitive growth in older adulthood is unique because most studies show only maintenance of cognitive abilities or cognitive decline over time."
The key to the difference, Wu surmises, is learning multiple tasks simultaneously in an encouraging environment, similar to what children experience.
[...] For Wu, it is further affirmation of her past research, which demonstrated that older adults can learn by emulating the learning behaviors of children. Among other things, it means older adults must approach learning with an open mind, unafraid of criticism and failure, receptive to instruction, willing to learn multiple tasks at once, and with a belief they can improve with effort.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Snospar on Wednesday May 10, @01:50PM (3 children)
I did much in my Undergrad years that severely blunted my cognitive abilities. Now I'm looking forward to doing it all again!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Freeman on Wednesday May 10, @02:07PM
I'm going with the takeaway is that challenging your brain to do thing is a good thing. Another one of those use it or lose it kinds of things.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Funny) by Thexalon on Wednesday May 10, @04:25PM
I was also going to mention: When they measured the cognitive abilities of undergrads might make a big difference, e.g. first thing Sunday morning after an all-night bender is going to be very different from Wednesday afternoon when they've had a chance to mostly recover.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2) by istartedi on Wednesday May 10, @05:34PM
And best of all, you can ruin the whole next day with roughly half the drinks, because aging body.
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(Score: 3, Insightful) by crotherm on Wednesday May 10, @02:47PM
Not only can you teach an old dog a new trick, it promotes good mental health. Seems simple.
(Score: 3, Touché) by mcgrew on Wednesday May 10, @02:49PM (6 children)
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Bullshit! I'm 71 and still learning.
Carbon, The only element in the known universe to ever gain sentience
(Score: 3, Funny) by pTamok on Wednesday May 10, @03:45PM
So am I, and the great thing is what I learn one day, I forget by the next, so I can learn it afresh again, and again, and again!
(I've forgotten where the 'joke' emoji is on my keyboard again. Ah, here we are: 㗙)
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Tork on Wednesday May 10, @05:02PM (4 children)
I realized in the middle of writing this that I really did have some contempt for school that might have been alleviated with some answers to questions about how the classes apply. I loved my Unix class at 6 in the evening but hated my English class at 6 in the morning.
Slashdolt Logic: "25 year old jokes about sharks and lasers are +5, Funny." 💩
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday May 10, @05:21PM (1 child)
Screw make work assignments. Sure, it's a way to get kids to "learn stuff", but it's also stupid. Adults don't like it any better. But, at least in a job situation, you're getting paid to do it.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by istartedi on Wednesday May 10, @06:30PM
Make-work assignments are something that I classify as "meta lessons". There's going to be BS in the work world too. Make-work assignments prepare you for that. Another big meta-lesson: The teacher doesn't want to resolve your disputes and may actually punish you if you complain (work: don't go to HR if you you can avoid it. They're not your friend).
They tell you "it gets better" and to some extent it does, but to a great extent it doesn't. Learn who to placate, who to avoid, when to get justice, how to bide your time and allow that time to "wound all heels". Learn what a real friend looks like. Learn it now.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 10, @07:06PM
When I was a TA in grad school, my favorite students to work with were the "older than average," or I guess they now call them "non-traditional" students. The ones who took time off for whatever reason and came back about five years older than the typical undergrad. They were focused and attentive and I always figured it was because they were their on their own dime and they had a particular driving motivation to be there (especially if they were working a day job at the same time).
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Tuesday May 16, @06:15PM
I never had that problem, but I was 25 before starting college and had spent four years in the Air Force first. One of the classes I signed up for was a psychology course, and before the class even started the instructor asked if I'd been in the military.
When I replied in the affirmative, he said "This class is for kids, you're not going to learn anything here."
I thanked him, left, and cancelled the class. From what my daughter tells me, college has changed as much since I attended as everything else has. I've actually been thinking of going back, I miss it. They sent me to several classes before I retired. One gave me the chance to walk around inside a mainframe computer. That was the second time in my life I'd actually stood inside one, the first time was in the Air Force when a building full of circuit boards was probably as powerful as a 1981 Timex-Sinclair 1000 or less. I'd brought two SUV-sized flightline air conditioners to it in the snow.
Carbon, The only element in the known universe to ever gain sentience
(Score: 2) by crb3 on Thursday May 11, @03:30AM
Those who are not busy learning are busy dying.