Learn a Second Language Now and Fight Dementia
Not all of us were raised in households where more than one language was spoken, but research is now delving into the value of a second language learned later in life. Free software at end.
People immigrating to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century spoke multiple foreign languages, but in many cases, one of them was not English. They had to attend classes to learn this new language. The stigma that accompanied speaking a foreign language led them to discourage their children from speaking their parents’ native tongue.
In my house, my mother refused to teach us her parents’ native language, even though I begged her. It was a mistake, and scientific investigation is teaching us how we lost a valuable asset by not learning a second language.
The scientific community is interested in bilingualism because it is thought to provide cognitive advantages that could postpone the onset of dementia. According to studies, bilingualism increases neuroplasticity and cognitive reserve, which helps people fend off cognitive loss brought on by the advancement of Alzheimer’s disease. Through executive control, bilingualism increases reserve, delaying the onset of early-stage dementia…
