The expert named the main barriers to learning after the age of 30

After 30 years of age, learning requires a different approach, but the brain is still able to learn new things. The feeling of learning difficulties is not so much related to age as to lifestyle. Marianna Snigireva, CEO of the Netology educational platform, told Izvestia about this on February 26.

"After 30, training most often takes place in conditions of high workload and constant multitasking. By this age, many people already have jobs, families, and other obligations, so free time becomes a limited resource. In such realities, traditional learning formats often seem difficult to access because they require more immersion. In addition, it is often important for adults to see the practical value of knowledge and apply it immediately," the expert explained.

She noted that the ability to concentrate reaches its peak at the age of 27-36, after which it gradually decreases, but this does not mean a loss of the ability to learn. Difficulties are more often associated with a change in the perception of information, increased responsibility and fear of wasting time.

According to Netology, only 30% of people find time for systematic learning. About a third of the working time is spent switching between tasks, which reduces productivity and complicates regular classes. In addition, 75% of respondents believe that standard methods do not take into account their rhythm of life.

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Motivation significantly influences the decision to study. Half of the respondents do not see the need for training without career benefits, and 40% cite cost as the main barrier. At the same time, more than half of online students purposefully search for educational programs on their own, which indicates the high role of internal motivation.

Snigireva emphasized that learning after 30 becomes more effective when using the principles of andragogy, an approach focused on the goals and rhythm of an adult's life. According to her, it is important to choose programs for a specific task, divide the material into short blocks, immediately consolidate knowledge in practice and plan time for classes in advance. The support of mentors and the learning community also helps keep you motivated.

The expert added that interest in online education continues to grow: in 2025, 98% of the population knows about it, and 64% already have personal learning experience. According to her forecast, the trend towards lifelong learning will intensify against the background of the development of artificial intelligence and digitalization.

"Learning is the best simulator for our brain. And new knowledge and skills open doors, fill with determination and strength," concluded the specialist.

On February 12, Science Daily reported on the DMTF1 protein, which can slow down brain aging. It regulates auxiliary genes (Arid2 and Ss18), which weaken the dense packing of DNA, allowing growth-related genes to be activated. Without these auxiliary genes, neural stem cells cannot regenerate effectively.

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