Five years ago, a California university decided to take the popular idea of learning-in-retirement programs one step further: Combining old and new information technologies, organizers created a virtual community to bring the learning experience to older adults unable to come to campus and unfamiliar with computers and the Internet. In the process, they learned some surprising lessons -- and developed some practical tips. Read More >>

Merchandise and services claiming to boost brain ability are flooding the marketplace in response to one of the most pervasive fears older adults face today -- that of decline in cognitive ability and a resulting loss of independence. But what evidence exists to suggest that these products and programs are beneficial? Can they be objectively evaluated? And do any of the approaches actually help older adults maintain their cognitive capacities? Read More >>

W. Andrew Achenbaum’s Older Americans, Vital Communities: A Bold Vision for Societal Aging “invites those of us who daily provide necessary and enriching services for elders to consider the issues and possibilities that are writ large in the concept of societal aging,” writes reviewer Christina Butler, who adds that the book “challenges both younger adults and boomers to envision the quality they desire for their likely-to-be lengthened lives and encourages the activism required to realize this new vision.” Read More >>

Alzheimer’s disease involves cognitive symptoms which make it difficult for patients to learn new information -- an observation that leads intergenerational learning experts Peter J. Whitehouse and Catherine Whitehouse to look at Alzheimer’s through the lens of the learning disability. “The concept is customarily applied to school-age children, yet it might usefully be expanded to encompass older adults with Alzheimer’s,” they write, noting that an enhanced quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s could be one outcome. Read More >>

LEARN chair Kali Lightfoot brings us up to date on changes for the network and for the American Society on Aging: The LEARN newsletter takes a new form with the launch of our first electronic issue; the LEARN Leadership Council brainstorms new strategic directions for the coming year; and a new president and CEO takes the helm at ASA. All these dynamic developments add up to one thing: LEARN is working to help its members stay at the forefront in the field of aging. Read More >>