Gaby
Researchers from the University of Barcelona have explored the connection between bilingualism and the aging process, arriving at some surprising conclusions.
According to the scientists, the brains of bilingual individuals are better protected against dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. It turns out that bilingualism helps keep the brain active and youthful for a longer time.
There are about 6,000 languages in the world, making it easy to assume that bilingualism is much more common than one might think.
Bilingualism (from the English term bilingualism) refers to the proficient use of two languages as if they were native. Approximately 70 percent of the world’s population are bilinguals.
Bilinguals possess a wide range of abilities that should be considered when conducting research, for example. One can be bilingual with a basic vocabulary of 6,000 words or know 60,000 words and idioms in two languages without making mistakes.
The Complex Connection Between Aging and Bilingualism
Researchers distinguish between two forms of bilingualism: early bilingualism, where both languages are acquired in the early years of childhood, and sequential bilingualism, where a second language is added later in life. There are three known periods of sequential bilingualism: ages 12-15, 16-30, and 31-60.
The Barcelona team involved 746 participants from these three age groups in their study on the relationship between bilingualism and aging. The observational results indicated that bilingualism positively influenced the maintenance of cognitive functions among the volunteers. This was particularly evident in areas such as learning, memory, executive functions, and language competence, as reported by The Conversation.
Researchers found that, on a structural level, bilingual individuals have a greater volume of gray matter compared to monolinguals. This was most pronounced among younger and middle-aged bilinguals.
Key Takeaways
The study revealed that bilingual individuals exhibit better cognitive abilities. Interestingly, statistics show that they also have access to a wider range of career opportunities.
Regardless of the circumstances under which a person becomes bilingual, there is clear evidence that it leads to beneficial and long-lasting structural changes in the brain. Moreover, bilingualism helps keep the brain active and youthful for a longer time.
Thus, bilingualism not only opens up vast communicative and cultural horizons but also enhances cognitive abilities. It protects the brain from dementia, preventing it from aging.
