Learning foreign languages may significantly slow brain aging, study finds

Learning and using multiple languages could be a key factor in maintaining a younger brain and slowing cognitive aging, a recent study suggests. Research presented at the European Federation of Societies for Neuroscience Forum 2026 indicates that individuals proficient in several languages exhibit brain ages significantly younger than their monolingual counterparts.

The study analyzed the brain activity of hundreds of participants in Spain's Basque region, who spoke between one and four languages, including Spanish, Basque, French, and English. Using artificial intelligence, researchers estimated the "brain age" of each participant based on their brain's connectivity patterns. The findings revealed a notable difference: bilingual individuals' brains appeared approximately six years younger than those of monolinguals.

Furthermore, the benefits increased with the number of languages spoken. Those who spoke three languages had brains that appeared about seven years younger, while individuals fluent in four languages showed the most significant difference, with their brains appearing around 13 years younger than monolinguals. The study also highlighted that earlier acquisition of a second language and achieving a high level of fluency correlated with greater brain health benefits.

Neurologist Tommy Wood noted that these findings align with previous research on the cognitive benefits of multilingualism. While much of the existing evidence focused on individuals raised in bilingual environments or learning languages from childhood, Wood emphasized that adults who did not grow up speaking multiple languages can still reap these rewards. He stated there is no definitive age limit beyond which learning a second language ceases to be beneficial.

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But people who did not grow up with more than one language do not need to assume that the opportunity to gain these benefits has passed. There is no clear age limit where learning a second language no longer provides benefits.