Older adults can learn new skills as well as younger adults.

Is it true that older adults can learn new skills as well as younger adults?

Partly. Several sources indicate older adults can acquire new skills, including motor and job-training examples, but these show capability rather than parity with younger adults. One motor-learning study found older adults performed worse and improved less in the slow learning stage than younger adults, so the evidence only partially addresses the comparative claim.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 5 sources for, 1 against · Last checked 17 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Older adults can learn to learn new motor skills. (2007). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2007.05.024

White matter microstructural organisation of interhemispheric pathways predicts different stages of bimanual coordination learning in young and older adults. (2018). hal.science. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13841

Dorothy, T. (1985). Job Training Programs in the USA Demonstrate Ability of Older Adults to Learn New Skills.. eric.ed.gov. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ326146

How learning theories can be applied to support older adults’ acquisition of digital skills?. (2020). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.47225/mg/12/kulonszam/8447

Dividing the Grey Divide: Deconstructing Myths About Older Adults’ Online Activities, Skills, and Attitudes. (2018). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764218777572

ERIC (1991). ERIC ED334470: Older Worker Training: An Overview. ERIC Digest No. 114.. archive.org. https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED334470