Scientific studies reveal links between multilingualism and brain health, and ancient DNA migrations

A new scientific study presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies congress in Barcelona suggests that multilingualism may slow biological brain aging. Research indicates that individuals who speak multiple languages may possess a brain that functions as if it were younger than their actual age. Specifically, bilingual individuals showed a brain age approximately six years younger than monolinguals, trilinguals showed a seven-year difference, and those speaking four languages exhibited a difference of up to 13 years.

In a separate study published in the journal Nature, researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Leiden University analyzed over 4,500 ancient genomes to trace population movements and the origins of Germanic and Celtic languages. The findings reveal an unexpected connection between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons, driven by a major population movement approximately 1,500 years ago from present-day northern Germany toward Denmark and southern Sweden. Additionally, the study identified a previously unknown migration from the Baltic region to present-day Sweden approximately 4,000 years ago, which likely introduced early forms of Germanic languages to Scandinavia.