Going back to school in retirement can build brain health and new connections

(Aging Untold) — Schooling does not end for some people in retirement. They are auditing classes, joining lifelong learning programs or training for a new job. The cost can be low or even free, but it still takes time. Why learning later in life matters Gerontologist “Sam” Cradduck, a gerontologist, said she sees going back to college later in life as personal enrichment. “Learning is a lifetime thing,” Cradduck said. “We all should participate in learning all along. You’re totally keeping your brain active, but you’re also building some relationships.” Cradduck said classroom education puts older adults in a room with a lot of younger people. “You’re letting them see what they have the potential to do and what they can still do,” Cradduck said. New connections in the brain and in life Dr. Rhea Rogers said this is a way of “establishing neuroplasticity.” “It’s always about making new connections, be it in the brain, be it in life, be it socially,” Rogers said. “And all the different be