Final answer:
Older adults can learn new skills and improve cognitive functioning with training, but the pace of learning may be slower than that of younger adults. With continuous mental and physical activity, they can reduce the rate of cognitive decline. Engaging in cognitive rehabilitation can also help offset mild cognitive impairment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kliegel's classical study showed that older adults can learn new skills and improve their cognitive functioning after training, but they don't learn as quickly as younger adults. However, given enough time, older adults can reach proficiency. Unlike physical abilities, which peak and then decline, cognitive abilities including crystallized intelligence remain steady or can even improve with age. The decline in fluid intelligence, which includes information processing abilities, reasoning, and memory, typically starts later in adulthood. Engagement in mentally and physically stimulating activities has been shown to help reduce cognitive decline and the incidence of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Furthermore, cognitive rehabilitation, which might include activities like virtual reality exercises involving daily living, memory, and language, can offset mild cognitive impairment.