Yesterday I was discussing how old age often molds us into changing individuals.
Here are some serious reasons why this happens:
Often, the decline in cognitive performance is caused by a loss of brain’s neuroplasticity, that means its ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections, making it harder for older adults to learn new skills or information as quickly as they did when they were younger.
Adults also may find it more challenging to manage their cognitive load, which is the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. This also makes learning new, complex information more difficult and frustrating.
Then there are the various routines and habits we all develop as we age. Learning something new frequently requires stepping out of these comfort zones, which can be destabilizing and intimidating.
We’re also more risk-averse and less willing to take on the uncertainty and potential failure that comes with learning new things.
This brings me to what’s left of the older adults’ motivation as they may perceive new information or skills as less relevant to their current lives in relation to their remaining lifespan.
Unless they can be shown immediate practical benefits, they won’t be as motivated to invest the time and effort required to learn. Instead, younger people generally have higher levels of intrinsic motivation to explore and learn in order to grow and reach specific objectives.
It’s also true that as we age, there’s clearly less social pressure or encouragement for older adults to learn new things compared to younger ones.
There’s also less information and resources available for that, including physical limitations, financial constraints, or lack of availability.
No one loves to fail either, and older adults may doubt their ability to succeed, which can deter them from even trying. This applies to fear of judgment too, as no one wants to be judged or seen as incompetent, especially in a world that adores youth and fast learning abilities.
To close that list, I must mention two critical elements that are health and time. Age-related health issues, such as hearing loss, vision problems, or chronic pain, make it more difficult to learn. Same thing with issues like depression or anxiety, that can be more prevalent in older adults, and will negatively impact both motivation and ability to learn.
Finally, when it comes to time, older adults may have a different perspective, focusing more on the present and less on long-term goals. This can lead to prioritizing immediate enjoyment or relaxation over investing time in learning new skills.
Tomorrow we’ll see if we can remedy all these problems, so please, stay tuned