​You're never too old to learn something new, Age Scotland gathering is told

The benefits of lifelong learning will be the focus of Age Scotland’s annual national conference.

Held in Perth Concert Hall on Wednesday, 29 March, delegates will hear how education can promote happier and healthier later lives.

Around 400 people are expected at the event, representing the 1,000 Age Scotland member groups.

Delegates will hear how through coming together to learn, older people can tackle loneliness and isolation.

This is a key priority for the charity, which has highlighted the fact that 100,000 older people in Scotland say they feel lonely most or all of the time.

Age Scotland chief executive Keith Robson said: “Our national conference this year is all about older people leading active lives in later life.

“This brings a host of benefits in terms of health, quality of life, tackling isolation and even preventing illnesses like dementia.

“It’s never too late to learn something new, and getting more older people to either learn new skills or to teach other people and pass on their lifetime of experience, can in our experience, be really beneficial.”

Dr Sabina Brennan, who will be presenting at the conference, is a research psychologist and award winning science communicator.

She said: “Lifelong learning results in a range of positive outcomes including improvement to our quality of life and well-being, reduced risk of social isolation which is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, and an overall increase in keeping mentally and socially active and in learning new skills as we age.”

“Lifelong learning also benefits our brain health, reduces our risk of developing dementia and increases our chances of living independently in the community in later life.”