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Speak Up: Multilingual Brains Age Slower
6 Jul
Summary
- Speaking two languages can make brains appear six years younger.
- Three languages may make brains seem seven years younger.
- Four languages associated with brains appearing 13 years younger.
The practice of speaking multiple languages may effectively slow the aging process of the brain, potentially by up to 13 years. A study presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies conference revealed that individuals proficient in more than one language exhibit brains that appear chronologically younger.
Specifically, those speaking two languages had brains that seemed six years younger than monolingual individuals. This cognitive advantage extends further with increased multilingualism, as speaking three languages was associated with seven-year-younger appearing brains, and four languages with brains appearing 13 years younger.
Researchers utilized magnetoencephalography and AI to compare brain activity and connectivity across 728 participants with diverse linguistic abilities. The study accounted for factors like age, sex, and education, though lifestyle influences were noted as potential confounders.
Experts suggest that earlier acquisition and higher proficiency in additional languages contribute to this delayed brain aging. While acknowledging the strong association, some caution that other lifestyle factors might also play a role in maintaining brain resilience.
