Flash News

Foreign exchange, the rate at which foreign currencies are sold and bought

Clear skies throughout Albania, here's what the weather is expected to be like today

Conflict between young people in Fushë-Krujë, 22-year-old injured with knife

Kanye West's state-funded concert, OCCRP: Government accused of using the concert to stifle protests

Here are the years of imprisonment requested for Monika's mother

POLITIKOFF

Speaking multiple languages ​​can keep your brain up to 13 years younger

Politiko 2026-07-14 09:35:11
Speaking multiple languages ​​can keep your brain up to 13 years younger

A new study finds that speaking multiple languages ​​can "rejuvenate" your brain by up to 13 years. This is according to the authors of a study presented in Barcelona at the FENS 2026 Forum (Federation of European Neuroscience Societies). For the first time, the benefits of learning one or more languages ​​other than your native tongue have been measured over the years, revealing that the earlier you start and the deeper you study, the better.

The study involved nearly 900 people from the Basque Country, a region in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, who spoke one or more of Spanish, Basque, French and English. Comparing biological brain age with actual brain age, it emerged that multilingualism brings exponential benefits. Specifically, those who spoke two languages ​​had brains that were six years younger, those who spoke three languages ​​seven years younger and those who spoke four languages ​​thirteen years younger.

According to the researchers, the effect was not only related to the number of languages ​​spoken, but also to the level of language proficiency and the age at which it was learned.

"Greater linguistic competence and earlier second language acquisition were associated with slower brain aging," explains Lucia Amoruso, who presented the research at the conference.

Does this mean that learning a language as an adult has no positive effects? Absolutely not. While the greatest benefits occur when multiple languages ​​are learned during childhood, learning it as an adult has very positive effects on brain health.

Although they took into account factors such as the age, gender and education level of the participants, the authors caution that it is not possible to completely rule out the influence of other factors that may affect brain health, such as lifestyle and level of social engagement.

The team's next goal is to conduct a similar study in people with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, where brain aging is even more important.

Latest news