Ever thought about learning a second language? Now you've got a great reason to do it - new research finds that if you learn another language you might just protect yourself against memory robbing, life altering, Alzheimer's disease. It appears that the brains of bilingual people work better for a good while longer after they get this disease.
The latest findings come from a group of researchers at Toronto's York University who tested almost 450 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's, half of whom spoke two languages and half who spoke a single language.
All the subjects had about the same level of cognitive impairment, but the team found that bilingual subjects were diagnosed, on average, almost four years later compared with those who spoke one language. Psychologist Ellen …show more content…
Or perhaps the increased blood, and therefore oxygen flow, to the brain helps to keep nerve connections healthy. Earlier studies have shown that bilingual people do work a brain network known as the executive control system more than those who only speak a single language do.
The executive control system in the brain involves portions of the prefrontal cortex as well as other parts of the brain, and allows us complexity of thought... to focus attention... to function in uniquely human ways.
Experts stress that being bilingual isn't a protection from dementia, but rather may help the brain deal with the ravages of Alzheimer's that much better. Bilingual brains somehow compensate for the damage from disease.
Bilingual people are thought to exercise these parts of the brain more in order to keep the two languages from getting mixed up with each other. Sorting through the various word options, switching back and forth and keeping it all straight are skills these people build over time, and may give a valuable cognitive benefit - helping these brains fight back when set upon by a disease like
The latest findings come from a group of researchers at Toronto's York University who tested almost 450 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's, half of whom spoke two languages and half who spoke a single language.
All the subjects had about the same level of cognitive impairment, but the team found that bilingual subjects were diagnosed, on average, almost four years later compared with those who spoke one language. Psychologist Ellen …show more content…
Or perhaps the increased blood, and therefore oxygen flow, to the brain helps to keep nerve connections healthy. Earlier studies have shown that bilingual people do work a brain network known as the executive control system more than those who only speak a single language do.
The executive control system in the brain involves portions of the prefrontal cortex as well as other parts of the brain, and allows us complexity of thought... to focus attention... to function in uniquely human ways.
Experts stress that being bilingual isn't a protection from dementia, but rather may help the brain deal with the ravages of Alzheimer's that much better. Bilingual brains somehow compensate for the damage from disease.
Bilingual people are thought to exercise these parts of the brain more in order to keep the two languages from getting mixed up with each other. Sorting through the various word options, switching back and forth and keeping it all straight are skills these people build over time, and may give a valuable cognitive benefit - helping these brains fight back when set upon by a disease like