Multilingualism Linked to Slower Biological Aging and Enhanced Cognitive Function, European Study Confirms

A massive European research project, encompassing over 86 thousand citizens spanning the ages of 51 to 90 across 27 different countries, has established a direct and significant correlation between the mastery of multiple languages and both the deceleration of biological aging and the preservation of cognitive health into later life. Neuroscientist Agustin Ibanez, affiliated with the Institute of Global Brain Health at Trinity College in Dublin, directed this comprehensive analysis. The primary goal was to quantify precisely how linguistic abilities influence the pace of age-related changes, even when factoring in individual health metrics and lifestyle choices.

The resulting data clearly indicates a stark contrast between language groups. Individuals who speak only one language face a doubled probability of experiencing accelerated aging compared to those who fluidly switch between two or more languages. For multilingual individuals, this specific risk is substantially mitigated, dropping by approximately 54%. Crucially, the protective effect is cumulative: the more languages an individual has acquired, the more pronounced the contribution to healthy longevity becomes. This strong correlation remained stable even after meticulous data adjustment for critical variables such as educational attainment, socioeconomic status, and environmental factors.

The researchers suggest that promoting multilingualism should be considered a viable public health strategy, specifically aimed at boosting cognitive resilience and supporting functional independence in advanced age. This observation aligns with existing evidence, including findings published in the journal BMC Geriatrics, which previously showed a link between a greater number of languages spoken and superior cognitive performance among community-dwelling older adults.

The underlying mechanism centers on constant mental exercise. The continuous requirement to switch and manage different linguistic systems effectively trains the brain’s executive control system, specifically engaging the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This perpetual activation of neural networks fosters brain plasticity and actively contributes to slowing down age-related deterioration.

Further investigations conducted in regions characterized by high levels of multilingualism, such as India, demonstrate the profound resilience conferred by language skills. These studies reveal that bilingual individuals can maintain high levels of cognitive functioning even when experiencing more significant structural brain damage than their monolingual counterparts. This suggests a powerful compensatory mechanism at play, allowing the brain to reroute functions.

Expanding on this concept of resilience, Professor Jubin Abutalebi pointed out that symptoms of dementia may manifest 4–5 years later in people who speak multiple languages. This crucial finding underscores that extensive linguistic experience builds a substantial cognitive reserve, enabling the brain to compensate for age-related or pathological changes for a significantly longer duration, effectively delaying the onset of severe symptoms.