Speaking two languages 'slows brain ageing'

[yoda you can call me]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/scien ... 79423.html



Learning a second language slows the speed at which brains age, a study has found, even if it learned in adulthood.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh found people who spoke two or more languages had significantly better cognitive skills later in life compared with what would be predicted from their IQ results in childhood.

The team, led by Dr Thomas Bak, from the Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, looked at data taken from intelligence tests on 262 English people at 11-years-old who could all speak at least two languages.

The tests were then repeated when they were in their seventies.

From that group, 195 learned a second language before turning 18 and 65 had acquired a second language after that age.

Researchers found that reading, verbal fluency and intelligence were better than what was expected from their test in childhood, particularly with reading and intelligence.

This was the case even if the second language was acquired in adulthood.

Dr Bak said: “Millions of people around the world acquire their second language in later life. Our study shows that bilingualism, even when acquired in adulthood, may provide a small benefit to the ageing brain.”

Caroline Abrahams, the Charity Director at Age UK, described the findings as "another stride forward in finding out how thinking skills can be preserved in later life".

"Over one million people in the UK aged 65 and over are estimated to have some degree of cognitive impairment. We urgently need to understand what influences cognitive ageing so that we can give people better advice about protecting their cognitive health."

[shadyblogger]

Cool... I'm working on learning a 3rd language

[Solace]

I plan on dying with 1 language at my disposal

Nerds

[gutawafang]

I was born to learn two languages: English and Malaysian Malay. I had no choice. I was raised to slow brain ageing.

And I understand spoken Chinese. I can speak basic chinese. Yay.

[shadyblogger]

I was born to learn two languages: English and Malaysian Malay. I had no choice. I was raised to slow brain ageing.

And I understand spoken Chinese. I can speak basic chinese. Yay.

That's actually really cool tbh

[yoda you can call me]

I was born to learn two languages: English and Malaysian Malay. I had no choice. I was raised to slow brain ageing.

And I understand spoken Chinese. I can speak basic chinese. Yay.

That's actually really cool tbh

Yes
I learnt French at school, but forgotten most of it now, but i'm gonna brush up on it and maybe a few others after reading this article. What's the other language you've learnt Blogger?

[shadyblogger]

Well I know Spanish fairly proficiently (at least people tell me that) and I learned it in school/my own studies. A little while back I tried learning German but then stopped. I'm probably gonna start up again as I really want to learn German (it's a lot of my heritage) and I actually find German really fun and cool as opposed to most people who think it's hard and boring. German's so much fun but I only know the very basics of grammar and a little vocab. Way harder than Spanish but more fun imo.

[SajN]

I speak and type Norwegian and English fluently (or fluent? Hah, oh the irony). I can speak Urdu normally but I can't read or write it lol.
I understand Swedish pretty well and can many words.

[Never_Enough]

Italian and English. I studied French at school but I don't remember anything. I want to learn spanish some day.

[yoda you can call me]

That's cool peeps. I wouldn't mind conquering the German language myself, seems really tough, plus this is basically the coat i'm wearing lately.



Might as well keep up appearances, lol

[shadyblogger]

That's cool peeps. I wouldn't mind conquering the German language myself, seems really tough, plus this is basically the coat i'm wearing lately.



Might as well keep up appearances, lol

Lol. I don't think German is that much harder than French. Plus, you know, the more languages you know the easier it becomes to learn others. Even just knowing 2 languages helps a lot.

[yoda you can call me]

That's cool peeps. I wouldn't mind conquering the German language myself, seems really tough, plus this is basically the coat i'm wearing lately.



Might as well keep up appearances, lol

Lol. I don't think German is that much harder than French. Plus, you know, the more languages you know the easier it becomes to learn others. Even just knowing 2 languages helps a lot.

Yeah, it's pretty cool being multilingual tbh. Definitely gonna have a crack at it

[PAINKILLƎR]

Spanish was my first language but began learning English before I started school at at about 4 I think. Still can speak both fairly well, English is my primary tongue and I use Spanish everyday to communicate with my mother and her family as well as my neighbors lol.

[shadyblogger]

Well I know Spanish fairly proficiently (at least people tell me that)

Eso tengo que verlo con estos ojitos...

Well how do you plan on doing that?

[yoda you can call me]

¿En cuántos idiomas se puede hablar Calandre?