Bilingualism may defend against Alzheimer's

Question

A study by Canadian researchers in the journal Cortex offers the first physical evidence that speaking more than one language delays the onset of disease.

Read the news article here ----> Print article, and

See the video here ----> Video

If you were losing your determination to learn, do not give up. It has to be good for you.

Regards/Saludos,
Moe

• I'm hoping for that, Moe. :) - dogwood Oct 13, 2011
• Great news... thanks, Moe :) Bilingulaism may protect against/offer protection against Alzheimer's disease - FELIZ77 Oct 13, 2011
• I'm going to tell my husband this...so he won't bug me about spending time on this site. - SusanaEspana Oct 13, 2011

Answer 1

Alzheimer's is a horrible illness, slow, disabling and ultimately fatal, anything which avoids it or delays its onset is very welcome. A great incentive to continue studying.

Answer 2

Gracias. A small part of the reason that I am learning Spanish is to make sure my brain gets exercise. At least it's one of the excuses I use when people wonder why I spend so much time and effort with it.

• Undeniable that the brain is the one part of the body that improves with strenuous use. :) - pesta Oct 13, 2011

Answer 3

It's certainly true! It's not just the subject matter itself though (Language learning). It's just keeping the brain active in general. There was also a BBC report back in 2004 about this.

Answer 4

Thank you Moe This is great news indeed and a wonderful incentive to keep studying and learning more than one language.

Is there increased reason for optimism in believing that learning two or more additional languages can delay the onset of such a disease? I certainly hope so I have never learnt languages simply to stimulate my brain's activity lol but It is good to know that placing a demand on my brain cells could help to stimulate them and possibly create more new neural pathways in the brain.