Multilingual People May Have Brains Up to 13 Years Younger

Topic: Health

Researchers found that people who speak more than one language may have brains that appear younger than expected for their age. The study focused on people from the Basque region of Spain and used a 'brain aging clock' to measure brain activity.

People who speak more than one language may have brains that appear younger than expected for their age, according to research presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026. The brain depends on billions of nerve cells constantly communicating with one another. As people get older, those connections can weaken, contributing to slower thinking and declines in memory.

The new findings suggest that multilingual experience may help offset some of those age-related changes. People who spoke more languages tended to have younger-looking brains, and the effect also appeared stronger among those who learned another language earlier and became more proficient.

The research was presented by Dr. Lucia Amoruso of the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language in San Sebastián, Spain. She worked with researchers from several institutions in Latin America and Ireland. The team had previously published research suggesting that people living in countries where multilingualism is common may age more slowly.

To measure brain aging, the researchers first studied 728 people and created a 'brain aging clock'. They used magnetoencephalography, a method that detects the faint magnetic fields produced when brain cells are active. Artificial intelligence was then used to analyze patterns of brain activity across people of different ages.

Why It Matters

This study is important because it shows how language learning can have a positive impact on our brains as we age. As India's population grows older, understanding how to keep our brains healthy becomes more crucial.

Key Facts

• The study found that people who spoke two languages had brains that appeared about six years younger than those of people who spoke only one language.
• Those who spoke three languages had brains that appeared about seven years younger.
• Among people who spoke four languages, the difference grew to roughly 13 years.
• Dr. Amoruso and her colleagues used a 'brain aging clock' to measure brain activity in over 700 people.
• The researchers adjusted their analysis for factors including age, sex, and education.

Key Terms

Magnetoencephalography

A method that detects the faint magnetic fields produced when brain cells are active.

Implications

This study is important because it shows how language learning can have a positive impact on our brains as we age. As India's population grows older, understanding how to keep our brains healthy becomes more crucial.