ALBAWABA - Forgetting a co-worker's name, struggling to recall a favorite show or actor, or having trouble remembering places visited or traveled to can be incredibly awkward and discomforting. Fortunately, a recent study published in the journal Neurology of Aging suggests that learning a second language may decrease the likelihood of experiencing these embarrassing situations.
Researchers from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Bonn, along with other European institutions, found that individuals who use more than one language in their daily lives tend to have higher scores in self-control, language skills, and memory tests compared to those who speak only one language.
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The focus of the study was on individuals who became bilingual or multilingual during their youth and middle age, as learning a second language later in life had no impact on cognitive abilities for those aged 65 or older.
The study found that individuals who reported being bilingual from an early age had superior performance in learning, memory, working memory, executive functions, and language proficiency when compared to monolingual individuals. Similarly, those who embraced bilingualism during their middle age showed significant advantages in learning and memory.
The research involved 746 participants who were divided into two categories based on their memory and cognitive abilities. Approximately 60% of the participants were patients attending memory clinics due to memory loss or confusion, while the remaining 40% reported no memory or cognitive difficulties.
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Each participant went through a series of tests evaluating vocabulary, memory, attention, and arithmetic skills. The results indicated that individuals who used more than one language, either during their youth (ages 13 to 30) or middle age (ages 30 to 65), achieved higher scores on these tests compared to monolingual individuals.
While multilingual individuals may be naturally less prone to memory and cognitive problems, experts point out that the German study aligns with previous research on bilingualism and memory.
So if you've ever contemplated becoming bilingual, now is as good a time as any to start reaping the numerous benefits of learning a second language.
