Being bilingual can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms by up to five years, according to a new study
The work was published in the scientific journal ‘Bilingualism: Language and Cognition’ by researchers at Concordia University in Canada. It shows how becoming bilingual can provide cognitive benefits, especially for adults.
According to a new study, understanding a second language helps delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by up to five years compared to monolingual adults.
Researchers from Concordia University in Canada analysed brain images to examine regions related to language and ageing.
They discovered that the hippocampus of bilinguals with Alzheimer’s disease was notably larger than that of monolinguals when compared by age, education, cognitive function, and memory.
“There was more brain matter in the hippocampus, which is the main region of the brain responsible for learning and memory and is greatly affected by Alzheimer’s,” Kristina Coulter, the principal author of the study, said.
Researchers from Concordia University in Canada analysed brain images to examine regions related to language and ageing.
The study, published in the scientific journal ‘Bilingualism: Language and Cognition’, reveals evidence of hippocampal atrophy among individuals with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s who were monolingual, but there were no changes in hippocampal volume in bilinguals during the progression of the disease.
“The brain volume in the area related to Alzheimer’s was the same in healthy older adults and in the Alzheimer’s group among bilingual participants. This suggests there may be some form of brain maintenance related to bilingualism,” explains Coulter.
“Speaking more than one language is one of several ways to engage cognitively and socially, which promotes brain health,” concludes Natalie Phillips, co-author of the study.
Learning a second language, along with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and quality sleep routine, can help protect the brain from deterioration caused by ageing.