A recent study conducted in the Basque region of Spain suggests that multilingualism may have a significant impact on brain ageing. Researchers found that individuals who speak multiple languages exhibit brain connectivity patterns indicative of a younger brain compared to those who speak only one language.

The study focused on speakers of Spanish, Basque, French, and English, using magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure brain activity. This technique allowed researchers to map functional connections among brain cells and develop what they termed a “brain ageing clock” to estimate typical brain connectivity at various ages.

Results indicated a clear association between the number of languages spoken and brain age. Participants who spoke two languages showed brain connectivity consistent with an age approximately six years younger than monolingual individuals. Those who spoke three languages appeared about seven years younger, while individuals fluent in four languages demonstrated brain patterns akin to someone 13 years younger.

Lucia Amoruso, who presented the findings at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, highlighted that not only the number of languages but also the proficiency level and the age at which a second language was acquired played important roles in delaying brain ageing. She noted that the benefits were linked to both the depth and duration of multilingual experience rather than simply bilingual status.

The research team plans to extend their investigation to people with Alzheimer’s disease to determine whether multilingualism might offer protective effects against dementia. This future work aims to explore whether the cognitive advantages observed in multilingual individuals could translate into resilience against neurodegenerative conditions.