Study finds multilingualism may help slow biological aging
A recent study published in Nature Aging suggests that people who actively speak more than one language tend to show slower biological aging than those who speak only one.
Researchers analyzed data from over 86,000 adults aged 51–90 across 27 European countries, using a computational model to estimate each participant’s “biobehavioural age gap.” The results indicated that active multilingual speakers were about half as likely to experience accelerated aging compared to monolingual individuals.
The benefits appeared strongest among those who regularly used multiple languages in daily life. Simply learning another language in school without actively speaking it did not show the same positive effect.
Even after adjusting for variables such as health, education, and socioeconomic factors, the link between active language use and slower aging remained consistent.
Why it matters
With populations aging across Europe and beyond, the findings suggest that promoting multilingualism could be a simple, low-cost way to support healthy cognitive aging. Encouraging adults to maintain or learn new languages might provide both mental and physical health advantages — alongside the cultural and social benefits of bilingualism.
The caveats
The study is observational, meaning it shows correlation rather than causation. People who use multiple languages may also have lifestyles or environments that support better health outcomes. Further research will be needed to determine how much language use — and what kinds — have the most significant impact on aging.
Source: Ground News
This summary is based on aggregated reporting via Ground News, which compares coverage across media outlets to identify bias and context.
Here’s a better way to read the news: Ground News gives you multiple sides of any news story, from over 50,000 sources across the political spectrum.
Use this referral code 6424436 to get 1 month of free Premium.
Try Ground News here