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A large European study of 80,000 adults finds multilingual speakers show slower brain aging and stronger cognitive resilience, prompting calls for greater support for language learning in education.
A major European study suggests that speaking more than one language may slow brain aging and boost cognitive resilience, strengthening calls to promote multilingual education.
Researchers assessed nearly 80,000 adults across 27 European countries and found that multilingual speakers showed significantly stronger brain adaptability than those who spoke only one language, according to findings published in Nature.
The study reported that monolingual adults were more prone to faster brain aging, while people fluent in multiple languages were less likely to experience accelerated cognitive decline.
Augustin Ibáñez, a co-author and neuroscientist at Adolfo Ibáñez University in Chile, said earlier research pointed to the cognitive benefits of multilingualism -- such as improved memory and attention -- but often relied on small or inconsistent samples. "This study addresses those gaps with unprecedented scale," he said.
Christos Pliatsikas, a neuroscientist at the University of Reading, said the findings provide unusually strong evidence. "The impact of multilingualism on aging has been debated for years, but I don't think we've seen data of this magnitude offering such clarity," he said.
Pliatsikas added that the results could signal "a major shift" in understanding how language use shapes long-term brain health.
Researchers say the findings may encourage people to learn or maintain a second language and hope policymakers will expand support for multilingual programs in schools as part of broader healthy-aging strategies.
Experts noted that the study adds to growing international attention on lifestyle factors -- such as language learning, social activity and exercise -- that may help protect cognitive function over time.