Multilingual people may have brains up to 13 years younger
Researchers have found that speaking multiple languages may help maintain a younger-looking brain as people age. Using AI to analyze brain activity, the study suggests that early and proficient multilingualism can offset age-related cognitive decline.
Why it matters
This provides a non-pharmacological strategy for promoting healthy brain aging and cognitive longevity.
People who speak more than one language may have brains that appear younger than expected for their age, according to research presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026.
The brain depends on billions of nerve cells constantly communicating with one another. As people get older, those connections can weaken, contributing to slower thinking and declines in memory.
The new findings suggest that multilingual experience may help offset some of those age-related changes. People who spoke more languages tended to have younger-looking brains, and the effect also appeared stronger among those who learned another language earlier and became more proficient.
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