A study of 282,421 people in the UK Biobank, which holds genetic, health, and medical information from approximately half a million British volunteers, found that middle aged and senior citizens in adult education have a 19% reduced chance of developing the condition within 5 years.
The findings also suggest that people who took the classes kept up their fluid intelligence – the ability to reason quickly and to think abstractly – and non verbal reasoning performance better than their peers who did not.
Meanwhile, the Alzheimer’s Society says that engaging in mental or social activities may help to build up the brain’s ability to cope with disease, relieve stress and improve mood, and may help to delay, or even prevent, dementia from developing.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work, said: "At Adult Education Wolverhampton, we continue to promote the importance of engaging in learning and in the ways in which it can help to improve your health, wellbeing and enjoyment of life.
"Research has shown that taking part in group activities to learn new skills and to update existing skills can be really positive. Anything that engages your mind, processes information and develops your thinking skills is good for the brain.
"Adult Education Wolverhampton offers a wide range of community learning classes from arts and crafts, British Sign language and digital skills through to our Multiply workshops that is designed to help you to manage your finances.
"So why not join a course and participate in an activity that will give you new skills and be beneficial to your health and wellbeing?"
To find out more, please visit Adult Education Wolverhampton, email enquiries@aes.wolverhampton.gov.uk or call 01902 558180.
