Stay young: Could learning a new language actually keep your brain younger? A major new study suggests the answer is yes. According to research published in Nature Aging, speaking multiple languages may significantly slow down brain ageing and the benefits grow with every additional language you know.
The large-scale study analysed data from over 80,000 adults aged 51 to 90 across 27 European countries.
The results were striking: people who spoke only one language were twice as likely to show signs of faster brain ageing compared to those who were multilingual. In contrast, individuals who spoke two or more languages were half as likely to experience accelerated ageing.
Researchers say these benefits come from something called cognitive reserve the brain’s ability to stay functional despite the natural decline that comes with age.
Dr Etu Ma’u, dementia researcher and lecturer at the University of Auckland, explains that the brain begins shrinking by about 5% per decade after the age of 40. However, mentally stimulating activities can strengthen cognitive reserve and help keep the brain resilient.
Speaking or learning multiple languages is one of the most powerful forms of mental stimulation. It constantly engages memory, attention, problem-solving, and processing speed essentially giving the brain a full workout.
Dr Ma’u noted that each additional language provides even greater benefits, with bilinguals and multilinguals often showing brain ages that appear younger than their real age.
Monolinguals, on the other hand, showed higher levels of brain ageing, making them more vulnerable to long-term cognitive decline.
The study also reinforces that dementia develops due to cumulative damage over many years, underscoring the importance of early lifestyle habits. Dr Ma’u emphasised that promoting language learning whether in childhood or later in life can help keep the brain active, healthy, and resistant to ageing.
His message is clear: “It’s never too early or too late to learn a new language.”