Studies using both brain imaging and long-term follow-up show that multilingual people have:
- Stronger connections between brain regions that govern memory and attention.
- Later onset of dementia symptoms, on average, 4-5 years later than monolingual individuals.
- Better cognitive reserve, which makes the brain more resilient to aging and disease.
The research indicates that language learning works like a “mental gym,” training the brain’s flexibility, planning ability, and working memory – factors directly linked to longer healthspan and a lower risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
