Speaking multiple languages could slow the ageing of the brain by as much as 13 years, according to new research. The study, presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies conference in Barcelona, found that people who speak two languages have brains that appear around six years younger than those who speak only one. Those speaking three languages saw a benefit of about seven years, while speaking four languages was linked to a brain age around 13 years younger.
Scientists used magnetoencephalography to measure brain activity in 728 participants of varying ages and linguistic abilities from the Basque region, where multilingualism is common. They then used artificial intelligence to calculate a normal level of brain connectivity for each age, and compared the results with a second group of 144 people who spoke one, two, three or four languages.
Dr Lucia Amoruso from the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language in San Sebastián said: 'In simple terms, people who spoke more languages tended to have brains that looked younger than expected for their chronological age. The effect was not only related to the number of languages spoken. Higher language proficiency and earlier acquisition of a second language were also associated with more delayed brain ageing.'
The researchers accounted for age, sex and education but cautioned that other factors such as lifestyle and social engagement could not be ruled out. Professor Eef Hogervorst of Loughborough University urged caution, noting that multilingual people might also engage in healthier lifestyles or have better access to protective activities like reading and playing musical instruments.
Professor Christina Dalla, a neuroscientist from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, said the study suggested that learning additional languages could help keep the brain younger for longer, and that starting earlier was better. She added: 'There are many good reasons for learning another language at any age – social, cultural and for the health of your brain.'
