Want a younger brain? Bilingualism is key, as it slows aging, Study finds

Learning multiple languages has always been one of the main manifestations of humankind, as it opens up doors to understanding new cultures.

But a new study has now unearthed a compelling hidden benefit. It could help us to live longer, as bilingual brains age slower.

The study findings, published in the Journal Nature, found that people who are only able to speak one language were more likely to experience accelerated aging, which points to a person's biological age being higher than their chronological age, elevating their vulnerability to conditions prevalent in later life.

Researchers have examined survey data from more than 80,000 people aged 51 to 90 from across 27 European countries.

The study investigated whether a person’s pace of aging was accelerated or delayed relative to their health and lifestyle profile.

On average, multilingualism in Europeans was linked to a 50% lower risk of accelerated aging.

The benefits grew with each extra language: the more languages people spoke, the slower their aging progressed over time—no matter social, environmental, or political differences.

As per the EU data that spotlights around 75% of working-age adults in the European Union can speak more than one language.

While the Nordic nations tend to rank among the highest for bilingualism, Southern Europe lags behind.

On the other hand, in the UK, foreign language learning has experienced a significant decline.

A 2024 report from the Higher Education Policy Institute revealed that modern foreign languages accounted for just 2.97% of all A-level exams in the UK.