A study presented at the 2026 Forum of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) found that people who speak multiple languages may have brains that appear younger than expected for their age.

The Impact of Multilingualism on Brain Aging

The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells that constantly exchange signals. As we age, the connections between these cells can weaken, leading to slower thinking and memory decline. New research shows that experience with multiple languages can partially offset age-related changes. People who speak more languages tend to have younger-looking brains, especially if they started learning a second language early in life and achieved a high level of proficiency.

Study Process

The research was conducted by scientists from the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (Spain), the Latin American Brain Health Institute at Adolfo Ibáñez University (Chile), the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of San Andrés (Argentina), and the Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity College Dublin (Ireland).

Previously, the team showed that residents of countries with widespread multilingualism may age more slowly. In their latest work, they focused on people from the Basque region of Spain who spoke between one and four languages (Spanish, Basque, French, and English).

Methods and Results

To assess brain aging, data from 728 people were analyzed using magnetoencephalography—a technique that records weak magnetic fields generated by brain cell activity. Artificial intelligence was used to analyze patterns of brain activity across different ages, allowing researchers to create a "brain aging clock" and estimate the "brain age" of a separate group of 144 individuals.

Comparing participants' chronological age with their estimated brain age revealed a clear trend: those who spoke two languages had brains that appeared about six years younger than monolinguals; those who spoke three languages, about seven years younger; and for those fluent in four languages, the difference reached up to 13 years.

Factors Influencing the Effect

The effect was linked not only to the number of languages spoken, but also to proficiency and the age at which learning began. Higher proficiency and earlier language learning were associated with a more pronounced slowing of brain aging. The analysis accounted for participants' age, gender, and education, but noted that other factors—such as lifestyle and social activity—can also influence brain health.

Future Research Perspectives

Future studies aim to determine whether similar patterns are seen in people with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, where brain resilience is especially important. Researchers also plan to investigate whether speaking two or more related languages provides an even greater benefit, since switching between similar languages requires more control due to the need to manage competing words and language systems.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that learning a second, third, or even fourth language can help preserve brain youth, with earlier language learning amplifying this effect. In addition to language experience, other factors—such as not smoking, healthy eating, and social, creative, and physical activity—also contribute to brain health. Supporting language learning in schools and throughout life may be beneficial for cognitive health at any age.