Being multilingual trains our brains
A Canadian study shows that bilingualism can help partially offset the risk of dementia. This is due to a thicker layer of tissue observed in multilingual patients. Learn more about it.
English is now considered a basic requirement in the business world. Every additional language is an extra qualification. In many cases, speaking multiple languages can give you an edge in the professional world. As a recent study shows, multilingualism can also lead to an increase in gray matter in the brain. And that, in turn, could slow the progression of symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to a report in the journal *Neuropsychologia*.
The study examined 34 monolingual MCI patients and 34 multilingual MCI patients, as well as 13 monolingual and 13 multilingual Alzheimer’s patients. The scientists measured cortical thickness and tissue density in their patients. The result: In the areas of the brain responsible for language and cognitive control, multilingual MCI and AD patients had a thicker cortex than patients who speak only one language. At the same time, the scientists found a correlation among the multilingual patients between the cortical thickness of the brain regions involved in language and cognitive control and performance on episodic memory tasks.
Bilingualism trains our brain—and helps prevent Alzheimer’s
That is why scientists at Concordia University in Montreal have concluded that speaking two languages exercises certain regions of our brain, which can increase cortical thickness and gray matter density. The study suggests that people who speak multiple languages may be able to compensate for the loss of brain tissue caused by Alzheimer’s disease. This is possible because these individuals tap into alternative networks or other brain regions responsible for memory processing.
Benefits of Foreign Language Skills—Both Professional and Health-Related
By the way: It’s not just adults who benefit from speaking multiple languages. Even babies and toddlers benefit developmentally from acquiring a second language. And children and adolescents learn additional languages much more easily if they already speak a foreign language. This has been demonstrated by the Lilo Lausch project of the Zuhören Foundation.
The basic prerequisite for learning a language is language comprehension, which in turn relies on good hearing—and this applies even to our youngest children. Good hearing is therefore extremely important for our communication. With regular hearing tests, you can check your hearing and prevent hearing loss. And when it comes to your daughter or son, newborn hearing screening helps you determine whether your child is well-equipped to learn language.
