Learn Norwegian to keep dementia at bay: study
Ex-pats in Norway who are putting off language lessons have just been handed another reason to dive in and learn Norwegian - speaking a second language keeps dementia symptoms at bay, scientists say.
New research by scientists in North America shows that years of speaking two or more languages can have a physical effect on the brain, as years of stashing extra vocabulary increases memory.
As the brain ages, the capacity developed to think in another language means it can call on its increased memory-bank to stem the onset of mentally degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
While it may seem daunting, learning Norwegian could hold back dementia symptoms for three to four years in an average case, American and Canadian scientists said in the March edition of the “Trends in Cognitive Sciences” journal.
"Our conclusion is that lifelong experience in managing attention to two languages reorganizes specific brain networks, creating a more effective basis for executive control and sustaining better cognitive performance throughout our lifespan." said Ellen Bialystok, lead author of the study, in a statement.
She added that jumping back and forth between languages played a large part in heightening mental flexibility.
The study compared brain scans, and symptoms of Alzheimer’s patients. People with a second language often had fewer dementia symptoms, even if they had worse brain damage than those with just their mother tongue.
“This supports the idea that these people can handle the disease better and live longer without symptoms,” said Bialystok, based at York University, Canada.
Researchers said that the earlier someone cracks open a textbook, the more chance they have of developing mental armour against Alzheimer’s.
Comments
See Also
New research by scientists in North America shows that years of speaking two or more languages can have a physical effect on the brain, as years of stashing extra vocabulary increases memory.
As the brain ages, the capacity developed to think in another language means it can call on its increased memory-bank to stem the onset of mentally degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
While it may seem daunting, learning Norwegian could hold back dementia symptoms for three to four years in an average case, American and Canadian scientists said in the March edition of the “Trends in Cognitive Sciences” journal.
"Our conclusion is that lifelong experience in managing attention to two languages reorganizes specific brain networks, creating a more effective basis for executive control and sustaining better cognitive performance throughout our lifespan." said Ellen Bialystok, lead author of the study, in a statement.
She added that jumping back and forth between languages played a large part in heightening mental flexibility.
The study compared brain scans, and symptoms of Alzheimer’s patients. People with a second language often had fewer dementia symptoms, even if they had worse brain damage than those with just their mother tongue.
“This supports the idea that these people can handle the disease better and live longer without symptoms,” said Bialystok, based at York University, Canada.
Researchers said that the earlier someone cracks open a textbook, the more chance they have of developing mental armour against Alzheimer’s.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.