[Academic learn in old age (author's transl)].

To test the capacity of the elderly to sustain prolonged intellectual activity, 80 volunteers from 60 to 90 years of age received instruction in reading German, previously not studied by them. Special methods of instruction were employed to stimulate interest and self confidence. Independent tests after three and six months showed that average progress was several times more rapid than that observed in high school children under normal conditions. Extremely beneficial effects on the personal attitudes of the participants resulted from the social contact involved. A later experiment involving learning to play the recorder produced similar results.