Learning Another Language May Be One of the Best Ways to Keep Your Brain Healthy
Recorded: Sept. 19, 2026, 3:01 p.m.
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Arts + Culture Learning another language may be one of the best ways to keep your brain healthy as you age Published: September 18, 2026 8:37am EDT Age changes the way languages are learned, but adults remain capable of learning new languages throughout life. https://theconversation.com/learning-another-language-may-be-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-your-brain-healthy-as-you-age-291951 https://theconversation.com/learning-another-language-may-be-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-your-brain-healthy-as-you-age-291951 Link copied Share article Share article Copy link Bluesky Messenger X (Twitter) Print article Learning another language is a highly complex mental activity. It requires people to remember words, distinguish unfamiliar sounds, recognize patterns, work out grammatical rules and retrieve the right expression at the right moment. All of this happens while listening, interpreting and preparing a response. Language learning may not keep the brain young, but it can be a way to support cognitive resilience as people age. A workout for the brain Learning unfamiliar sounds, vocabulary and grammatical patterns requires the brain to form and strengthen connections. Language learning engages several mental processes at once, requiring people to absorb and retrieve information, notice when something does not work out, and adjust. This sustained mental effort makes language learning a particularly rich form of cognitive exercise. Aging inevitably changes the brain, but keeping our brains engaged in demanding new activities may help offset the effects. Building cognitive resilience Dementia Brain Aging Language studies Bilingualism Language learning Adult education Second language acquisition Alzheimer's disease Language loss Language acquisition Language use Brain aging Karen Stollznow, University of Colorado Boulder, Griffith University, University of New England Author Karen Stollznow Senior Research Fellow of Linguistics, University of Colorado Boulder; Griffith University; University of New England Disclosure statement Partners University of Colorado provides funding as a member of The Conversation US.Griffith University and University of New England provide funding as members of The Conversation AU. DOI Want to write? Write an article and join a growing community of more than 233,300 academics and researchers from 5,619 institutions. Register now Editorial Policies Community standards Republishing guidelines Friends of The Conversation Analytics Our feeds Donate Get newsletter Who we are Our charter Our team Partners and funders Resource for media Work for us En Español Contact us Privacy policy Copyright © 2010–2026, The Conversation US, Inc. |
Learning another language is presented as a method that supports brain health as individuals age by engaging in complex mental activities. The process of language acquisition demands significant cognitive effort, requiring the brain to remember vocabulary, distinguish unfamiliar sounds, recognize patterns, understand grammatical rules, and retrieve appropriate expressions while simultaneously listening, interpreting, and formulating responses. This sustained mental exertion makes language learning a rich form of cognitive exercise that engages multiple mental processes concurrently. Research indicates that language learning and bilingualism confer cognitive advantages, particularly for older adults. Studies focusing on bilingualism have demonstrated differences in the brain's structure and activity, showing greater gray matter density and stronger white matter integrity in bilingual individuals compared to monolinguals. This suggests that language experience is reflected in the brain, influencing its physical structure and functional capacity. The concept of cognitive reserve is central to understanding the protective role of bilingualism against aging. Managing two languages requires continuous demands on attention and cognitive control, which helps strengthen cognitive reserve, allowing the brain to maintain cognitive function despite age-related changes or damage. Some research further suggests that bilingual individuals may exhibit symptoms of dementia at a later age than those who speak only one language, implying that bilingualism may offer some protection against the effects of brain aging, fostering greater resilience rather than outright preventing diseases like Alzheimer's. Regarding the timing of learning, adults remain capable of acquiring new languages throughout their lives. While children possess advantages in aspects like pronunciation and some grammatical intuitions, adults bring advantages in terms of larger vocabularies and more developed strategies for learning. The cognitive benefits derived from learning a new language appear to stem more from the sustained challenge of learning, practicing, and adapting than from achieving full fluency. Furthermore, language learning provides significant social benefits by enhancing cultural understanding, improving interpersonal communication, and cultivating empathy for diverse perspectives. Ultimately, keeping the brain engaged through demanding activities like language acquisition helps offset the inevitable changes associated with aging by supporting cognitive resilience. |