Multilingualism and Brain Age

Research presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies shows a clear link between multilingualism and a more youthful brain. Compared to people who only speak one language:

• Two languages: Brains appear about 6 years younger.
• Three languages: Brains appear about 7 years younger.
• Four languages: Brains appear roughly 13 years younger. 

This effect is attributed to cognitive reserve, built through the constant mental juggling required to switch between different vocabularies and grammatical structures. The constant mental shifting recruits neural circuits that build extra brain capacity, enabling your mind to better cope with the normal aging process.

So go ahead and learn Spanish so you can understand Bad Bunny’s lyrics. Or, take your next vacation in a French-speaking country.