Bilingualism's shield: Delaying Alzheimer's by five years
We often don't consider this when we're just starting to teach our children, but ensuring they are bilingual can significantly protect them from Alzheimer's. According to the latest research by scientists at Concordia University in Canada, speaking two languages can delay the onset of disease symptoms by up to five years compared to monolingual individuals.
24 October 2024 10:33
Researchers from Montreal analyzed brain areas associated with language and aging processes using neuroimaging methods. They compared brain structures in older monolingual and bilingual people who were cognitively healthy, showed subjective cognitive decline, had mild cognitive impairment, or were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
The study results showed that the hippocampus—the main brain area responsible for learning and memory, which is greatly affected by Alzheimer's disease—was noticeably larger and in better condition in bilingual people with the disease than in monolingual people. This effect persisted even after accounting for the participants' age, education level, and cognitive and memory abilities.
Bilingualism helps. Not only in the case of Alzheimer's
Bilingualism is considered a lifestyle factor contributing to the brain's resilience to aging processes. The mental stimulation resulting from speaking more than one language, a healthy diet, regular physical activity, good sleep, and proper sensory functioning help protect the brain.
