Abstract
Have you heard about brain training? That might bring to mind crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or brain teasers. Learning new languages is another powerful way to stimulate the brain. Activities that challenge the brain can help us stay healthy and sharp for longer. So, we wanted to see whether living in multilingual countries is associated with slower aging.
We interviewed a large number of people about their cognition, health, and lifestyle. We estimated their age from their answers. Next, we compared their real age to this estimated age. With statistics, we found some interesting things. People who live in countries that speak more than one language tend to be more mentally and physically fit. For people living in monolingual countries, it’s the opposite. They are more likely to age faster. Also, living in a country with more spoken languages offers greater protection against age-related decline over time.
The post Can living in a multilingual country slow down aging? appeared first on Science Journal for Kids and Teens.
