A new study suggests that learning another language may do more than help people communicate while travelling or at work. It could also help the brain stay younger for longer.
Researchers presented the findings at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum in Barcelona, Spain, where they reported that people who spoke multiple languages appeared to have younger-looking brains than those who spoke only one language.
Scientists have long believed that mentally challenging activities can help protect the brain as people age.
Learning a new language is one of the most demanding tasks the brain can perform because it requires memory, attention, problem-solving and rapid switching between different words and grammar systems.
In the new study, researchers from the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language created a ‘brain ageing clock’ using brain scans from 728 people. The system estimated the biological age of the brain by analysing how different regions communicated with one another.
The team then tested the model on another 144 adults with different language backgrounds. Some participants spoke only one language, while others spoke two, three or even four languages.
The results revealed a clear pattern. People who spoke two languages had brains that appeared about six years younger than expected for their actual age.
Those who spoke three languages had brains that appeared about seven years younger, while people who spoke four languages showed brains that appeared around 13 years younger.
The researchers also found that the age at which people learned another language mattered. Those who started learning earlier in life tended to show greater benefits. However, adults who became highly fluent in another language also appeared to gain advantages, suggesting it is never too late to begin.
The scientists emphasised that language ability exists on a spectrum rather than being simply bilingual or not. Greater fluency and longer experience using multiple languages were linked with larger differences in estimated brain age.
The research team now hopes to investigate whether multilingualism could help delay diseases that affect memory and thinking, including Alzheimer’s disease. If confirmed, language learning could become one part of broader strategies for maintaining brain health throughout life.
Experts who reviewed the findings noted that brain health depends on many lifestyle factors. Regular exercise, healthy eating, avoiding smoking, maintaining social connections and continuing to learn new skills all appear to contribute to healthier ageing.
In my view, this study provides another strong reason to learn a second language, but the findings should be interpreted carefully.
The research has been presented at a scientific conference and has not yet established that language learning directly causes slower brain ageing. Even so, the association is encouraging and supports the idea that challenging the brain throughout life may help preserve mental function.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about dietary strategies to ward off dementia, and how omega-3 fatty acids fuel your mind.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Choline deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and what to eat (and avoid) for dementia prevention.
