Recent research suggests that bilingualism may delay the onset of dementia, offering cognitive advantages to older adults who speak more than one language.

Psychology professor Natalie Phillips discussed these benefits during a conversation with New Scientist, emphasizing the role of bilingualism in cognitive health.

Bilingual individuals enhance their brain networks for memory and executive function through constant language switching, which helps mitigate the effects of dementia.

A landmark study by Canadian psychologist Ellen Bialystok in 2007 revealed that bilingual dementia patients showed symptoms four years later than their monolingual peers.

She also noted that challenging the brain through activities like learning a new language can significantly stimulate brain health.

Supporting these findings, a 2013 study from India indicated that bilingual individuals developed dementia symptoms 4.5 years later than monolinguals, regardless of other influencing factors.

Furthermore, bilinguals experience less decline in the hippocampus, the brain's primary memory center, as cognitive issues progress compared to monolinguals.

Phillips' research identified three mechanisms through which bilingualism may protect against dementia: boosting brain reserves, enhancing cognitive reserve, and supporting brain maintenance.

In addition to bilingualism, engaging in games, puzzles, and crosswords is recognized as an effective way to lower the risk of dementia, which currently affects nearly 7 million Americans.

Bialystok clarified that while bilingualism does not prevent dementia, it can delay its onset, providing families with crucial additional time.