For seniors, learning new things may take us out of our comfort zone, at least initially. In noting that, researchers at the University of California Riverside offer some assurance that the short-term challenge to learning a new skill can pay off in the long-term by doing better mentally. Two studies looked at how people of different ages adjusted to the Covid pandemic. Participants reported how much time they spent learning new skills during the pandemic. Authors of the studies in the journal PLOS Mental Health say people, especially seniors, who were actively learning fared better in their response to handling stress and isolation than those less curious-- evident in participant’s own evaluations of memory, focus and daily decision-making abilities.