Multilingualism shown to reduce brain ageing in European study

Research presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies conference in Barcelona found that speaking multiple languages is associated with younger‑appearing brain patterns. Scientists from Spain, Chile, Argentina and Ireland measured baseline brain activity of 728 participants using magnetoencephalography and artificial‑intelligence models, then compared scans of 144 people who spoke one, two, three or four languages. Two‑language speakers showed brain connectivity resembling individuals about six years younger, three‑language speakers about seven years younger, and four‑language speakers roughly 13 years younger than monolinguals. Greater proficiency and earlier acquisition of additional languages amplified the protective effect.

A related analysis published in Nature Aging examined 86,149 participants from 27 European countries, estimating "biological age" from health‑related markers such as education, diet and exercise. The study reported that multilingual individuals tended to have lower biological ages, although researchers cautioned that lifestyle factors and social engagement could also contribute. Experts emphasized that while the findings support language learning as a potential brain‑health strategy, further work is needed to isolate the specific mechanisms behind the observed delay in brain ageing.