Bilinguals Are Better Protected From Dementia

Bilinguals Are Better Protected From Dementia

In a study conducted in India and published in the Journal of Neurology, researchers showed a clear link between the number of languages one speaks and the age at which dementia sets in.

The British and Indian conducted study confirmed what other studies on the matter suggested over the years; that dementia sets in years later in people who speak more than their native language. An interesting piece of information that the study discovered is that the same results apply to illiterate people, meaning that a formal education isn't necessary to get the benefits of learning a second language.

The study put illiterate people that only spoke one language next to illiterate bilinguals. The results showed that dementia set in up to six years later in illiterate people who spoke more than one language.

Thomas Bak, co-author of the study said that bilingualism has a protective effect on the brain as a bilingual has to interpret different sounds and symbols, switch between grammar and stylistic concepts and even between cultural ones. The higher brain activity is the key protective factor that helps delay dementia.

All past and current research on bilingualism seems to show that exposing children, as early as possible to a second language could give them an important boost in brain health and cognitive abilities for the entire duration of their lives.

Posted by George Daniels on Sunday November 10 2013, 3:50 AM EST. Ref: USA Today. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0