Researchers have known for some time that learning a new language as an adult can help to prevent or delay the onset of age-related cognitive decline. But now new research, carried out in partnership by Trinity College Dublin, the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language in San Sebastian, and the Latin American Brain Health Institute in Santiago, Chile suggests that being multilingual has far-reaching positive health effects that go far beyond keeping the little grey cells fit and active.
In fact, the researchers have discovered that the more languages people speak the more they are protected against health decline relating to age. Even after factoring in issues such as education, overall health, and lifestyle, it turned out that people from countries where being multilingual is the norm were 2.17 times less likely to experience accelerated ageing compared to people living in monolingual cultures.
The researchers further believe that incorporating language acquisition into public health plans will result in healthier, happier populations into old age, with huge positive benefits at individual, community, and societal levels.
At 101translations, where language is our first love, we’re not even slightly surprised.
Photo Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/students-talking-and-studying-in-a-lecture-hall-wAgfqXpYqug
