Nisha Pandey

Challenge Your Brain To Keep It Young: New Study Says Learning Another Language Can Help

Learning Another Language May Help Slow Brain Ageing

Learning a second or even a third language may do more than expand your communication skills. According to a new study presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026 in Barcelona, learning a new language could also help keep your brain younger as you age. 

The findings of the study say that people who speak multiple languages have brains that appear biologically younger than those who speak only one language. The research added to the growing evidence that <span>multilingualism</span> has a beneficial effect on healthy cognitive ageing. 

To investigate how language affects the ageing brain, researchers analysed brain activity in adults living in Spain's multilingual Basque region. 

They used magnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive brain imaging technique that records the brain's electrical activity, along with artificial intelligence (AI) to ascertain each participant's <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/anti-inflammatory-diet-may-help-lower-dementia-risk-even-in-those-who-show-early-signs-of-alzheimers-study-article-154955409" data-type="tilCustomLink">brain age</a>. 

Rather than relying on a person's actual age, the AI model assessed how well different regions of the brain communicated with one another, a key marker that normally weakens with age. 

Researchers first trained the AI using brain scans from 728 adults with varying language abilities before validating the findings in an independent group of 144 participants.

Read more: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/normal-ageing-or-alzheimers-doctors-explain-six-key-differences-to-watch-for-article-154962355" data-type="tilCustomLink">Normal Ageing or Alzheimer's? Doctors Explain Six Key Differences to Watch For</a> 

The results revealed an association between multilingualism and a younger-looking brain. Compared with people who spoke only one language, bilingual participants had brains that appeared around six years younger. Those who spoke three languages had brains that looked approximately seven years younger, while participants fluent in four languages had brains that appeared up to 13 years younger. 

Researcher Lucia Amoruso, deputy scientific director at the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language in San Sebastián, Spain, said, “In simple terms, people who spoke more languages tended to have brains that looked younger than expected for their chronological age.” 

The researchers also found that language proficiency mattered. People who learned additional languages earlier in life and became more fluent showed even greater differences in brain age. 

<h2>Is Multilingualism The Key To Keep Your Brain Younger? </h2>

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Scientists believe speaking multiple languages provides the brain with a constant mental workout. Regularly switching between languages requires attention, memory, problem-solving and cognitive control, all of which strengthen the neural networks involved in thinking and decision-making. 

This exercise may help maintain stronger communication between brain regions, increasing the brain's resilience against age-related decline. 

While the team considered factors like age, sex, and education, multilingual individuals may also be more likely to engage in other habits that are beneficial for the brain. 

Although the findings are encouraging, the researchers say that the study does not prove that learning another language directly slows brain ageing or prevents <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/dementia">dementia</a></span>. Experts say further long-term studies are needed to determine whether multilingualism can reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/new-blood-test-may-predict-alzheimers-symptoms-at-least-4-years-in-advance-study-article-154946490" data-type="tilCustomLink">Alzheimer's disease</a>. 

Despite the need for more research, scientists say the findings offer another compelling reason to learn a new language. Whether through formal classes, language-learning apps or everyday conversations, developing language skills could provide meaningful mental stimulation throughout life.

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Learning a second or even a third language may do more than expand your communication skills. According to a new study presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026 in Barcelona, learning a new language could also help keep your brain younger as you age. The findings of the study say that people who speak multiple languages have brains that appear biologically younger than those who speak only one language. The research added to the growing evidence that multilingualism has a beneficial effect on healthy cognitive ageing. About The Study To investigate how language affects the ageing brain, researchers analysed brain activity in adults living in Spain's multilingual Basque region. They used magnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive brain imaging technique that records the brain's electrical activity, along with artificial intelligence (AI) to ascertain each participant's brain age. Rather than relying on a person's actual age, the AI model assessed how well different regions of the brain communicated with one another, a key marker that normally weakens with age. Researchers first trained the AI using brain scans from 728 adults with varying language abilities before validating the findings in an independent group of 144 participants.Read more: Normal Ageing or Alzheimer's? Doctors Explain Six Key Differences to Watch For The results revealed an association between multilingualism and a younger-looking brain. Compared with people who spoke only one language, bilingual participants had brains that appeared around six years younger. Those who spoke three languages had brains that looked approximately seven years younger, while participants fluent in four languages had brains that appeared up to 13 years younger. Researcher Lucia Amoruso, deputy scientific director at the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language in San Sebastián, Spain, said, “In simple terms, people who spoke more languages tended to have brains that looked younger than expected for their chronological age.” The researchers also found that language proficiency mattered. People who learned additional languages earlier in life and became more fluent showed even greater differences in brain age. Is Multilingualism The Key To Keep Your Brain Younger?    Scientists believe speaking multiple languages provides the brain with a constant mental workout. Regularly switching between languages requires attention, memory, problem-solving and cognitive control, all of which strengthen the neural networks involved in thinking and decision-making. This exercise may help maintain stronger communication between brain regions, increasing the brain's resilience against age-related decline. While the team considered factors like age, sex, and education, multilingual individuals may also be more likely to engage in other habits that are beneficial for the brain. Although the findings are encouraging, the researchers say that the study does not prove that learning another language directly slows brain ageing or prevents dementia. Experts say further long-term studies are needed to determine whether multilingualism can reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Despite the need for more research, scientists say the findings offer another compelling reason to learn a new language. Whether through formal classes, language-learning apps or everyday conversations, developing language skills could provide meaningful mental stimulation throughout life.