Speaking two languages has been found to slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by up to five years.
A new study by Concordia University, published in the journal Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, said bilingualism had long been known to have cognitive benefits for older adults.
This latest work quantified the benefits, finding a five-year gap between bilingual and monolingual adults who developed Alzheimer’s.
The researchers found that the hippocampus area of brain in bilinguals with Alzheimer’s disease was noticeably larger than other people’s when matched for age, education, cognitive function and memory.
“There was greater brain matter in the hippocampus, which is the main region in the brain for learning and memory and is highly affected by Alzheimer’s,” study lead Kristina Coulter said.
“Brain maintenance is the continued ability to maintain its form and function as it ages.
“Mental stimulation, such as bilingualism, along with a healthy diet, regular exercise, good sleep and good sensory health are believed to help protect the brain from deteriorating.”
Another of the researchers, Natalie Phillips, said the research study was unique in that it was able to look at the potential influence of being bilingual on brain structure across the continuum of dementia risk.
This ranged from individuals who were cognitively normal, to those who were at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s, to those who had the disease.
The research paper is called Bilinguals show evidence of brain maintenance in Alzheimer’s disease.
