Learning and memory -
What is the best way to learn?

Memory is a marvel of our body. It can store information or details for years or short periods of time, which we can recall in seconds. However, memory performance often declines over time. This is because, at the beginning, we constantly challenge our brains, and thus our memory and learning ability. We learn to sit, eat, and walk. Later, we learn new information every day at school and university. But then, in our professional lives, we become somewhat dulled. The brain loses performance because it is no longer trained.

What is the best way to learn?

Especially when studying for school, college, or work, it's important to memorize information accurately. While many students only want to retain information until the next test, college students usually need to be able to apply the material they've learned in their professional lives.

How they learn best depends on their personality. Some people learn very easily and effectively using a flashcard system. Here, the information is written on a card in question format. The answer is on the back of the card. The questions are then simply removed. The answer then comes from the learner, who can check the back to see if they have known the correct information. Others, on the other hand, learn very quickly by reading the texts containing the information aloud over and over again. Others learn more easily when they have the content they are trying to memorize in visual form.

Targeted exercises to increase concentration

Targeted exercises to increase concentration and regular study breaks improve memory performance many times over. This way, it's not just schoolchildren and students who can train their brains while studying; basically anyone can do it. Whether you're a tradesman, manager, or nurse, everyone has the opportunity to train their brain and memory performance. Because the exercises to achieve this performance improvement can actually be learned.

Simple exercises can be found online. These can be downloaded quickly and are available everywhere thanks to portable devices. This way you can train your brain while on a train journey, for example. One example of an effective learning game is number hunting. In this game you initially see nothing but 43 empty spaces in a box. As soon as the game starts, the numbers from 1 to 43 appear in the empty spaces in any order. The player must then sort the shuffled numbers by clicking on the numbers, i.e. click on them in the correct order from 1 to 43. If a number is clicked incorrectly, it turns red. This sounds simple and perhaps childish to some, but the learning effect is enormous because it teaches you to concentrate and focus on something. Since you shouldn't take your time as long as you want, because there is a clock running that measures your speed, you also increase your speed while concentrating.

Another simple exercise is to memorize quotes or recite tongue twisters. If you learn a new rhyme every week, you'll soon have a proud collection of funny sayings and, at the same time, an increased memory capacity.

Richtig lernen

Lifelong learning is a prerequisite for success and quality of life

Demographic change is unstoppable and will certainly be one of the most important issues of the coming years. People are living longer and longer; they are healthier, better educated, and perhaps even more optimistic than previous generations. Aging is no longer synonymous with illness and weakness. The strengths of the 50+ generation, such as a wealth of experience, extensive knowledge, and many years of professional expertise, are invaluable to society and the world of work. So, 50 is far from the end of life; rather, it opens the door to an active second half of life. For the individual, this means constantly challenging and nurturing their physical and mental potential.

Lifelong learning is therefore becoming increasingly important – for each and every one of us. However, "lifelong learning" means much more than just acquiring new knowledge. Other cognitive skills are also important, such as the ability to quickly draw correct conclusions from new information. Accurate and successful information processing is a key to success and recognition, and thus to a better quality of life – both professionally and personally.

It is quite natural that mental strength – namely concentration, memory and other cognitive abilities – gradually decline with age, but this does not necessarily have to be the case.

Let’s look at how the brain learns in childhood and old age:

Learning at a young age

For a long time it was thought that we are born with a certain number of nerve cells and that no new neurons (= nerve cells) develop after birth. According to recent research, new nerve cells continue to develop after birth – even into old age. Nevertheless, while the vast majority of neurons are present in the first years of our lives, not all of the connections between them are formed. This “immature brain” then continues to develop until puberty: used nerve connections are strengthened and unused ones are broken down. This is precisely the neurobiological basis of learning. Therefore, it is particularly important to learn a lot in the early stages of life, because this is when the connections between the cells are formed particularly easily and permanently. In later years, they can only be expanded with greater learning effort. Those who learn a second language very early on, for example, will find other languages easier later on.

Learning as an adult

Contrary to popular belief, the brain never stops developing. It constantly absorbs information and continues to learn. New synapses are formed throughout life, and to a certain extent, even entirely new nerve cells—provided the brain cells are challenged: "The brain is like a muscle and can be trained. Even in centenarians, it changes with every conversation," says neuroscientist Professor Ernst Pöppel.

It's especially important to find the right learning strategies for a mature brain. Don't overload your brain with too much information and support it with repetition. Give it enough time—with sufficient breaks and enough sleep.

Above all, ensure motivation to learn: The brain releases the "happy hormone" dopamine when we understand and then remember something. The "aha" effect leads to a positive mood, and what has been understood is retained. Since motivation depends on personal experiences and abilities, learning becomes more individual over time. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all learning strategy—especially for the older brain. Find out what inhibits and motivates you personally and develop your own learning tools!

Even more so than in younger years, it's important to pay attention to a healthy lifestyle in old age: This includes adequate fluids, exercise, and a nutritious diet. You can supplement the latter with a dietary supplement containing selected nutrients, vitamins, and trace elements that are important for healthy brain function in old age.