Study Finds Multilingualism May Slow Cognitive Aging
Research has shown that speaking multiple languages could help slow cognitive aging. Traditionally, advice on healthy brain aging has focused on maintaining a balanced diet, staying active, and fostering social connections. However, recent findings suggest that learning another language could be an important addition to this list.
A study published on November 10 in the journal Nature Aging suggests that multilingualism may be associated with a reduced risk of accelerated cognitive aging. The researchers propose that promoting multilingualism could be a valuable public health strategy.
Study Methodology and Findings
The study analyzed survey data from more than 86,000 healthy individuals aged 51 to 90, across 27 countries in Europe. This large-scale analysis addressed previous limitations, such as small sample sizes and poor aging measurement methods, which had plagued earlier studies.
“The effects of multilingualism on aging have always been controversial, but I don’t think there has been a study of this scale before, which seems to demonstrate them quite decisively,” said Christos Pliatsikas, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Reading in England, who was not involved in the study.
Previous Studies and Their Limitations
Prior studies had shown some potential benefits of multilingualism in terms of memory and attention. However, these studies often produced inconclusive results due to small sample sizes, inconsistent methodologies, and other factors.
Potential Impact on Public Health
The new study’s findings suggest that encouraging multilingualism may be a valuable public health initiative. Although more research is needed, the scale of this study offers convincing evidence of its potential benefits in slowing cognitive decline.
Author's Summary: A large-scale study links multilingualism to slower cognitive aging, suggesting that learning languages could be a useful public health strategy to combat brain aging.