Bilingualism Delays Onset of Dementia
A recent study by a bunch of experts in the states are saying that kids need to learn more languages. Even with the current focus on education and reforming No Child Left Behind, there’s still almost no interest in foreign-language learning in the US. Same as here in Canada, there’s the assumption that everyone will just learn English. Try to talk to people about it, and they just say ‘our economic prosperity proves that our ancient teaching methods and rejection of globalization will be just as successful as they were 30 years ago.’ Yeah, that’s a great idea, reinforce Western anglo-centric arrogance and totally ignore the last 20 years of cognitive research. Anyhoo, I can feel this turning into a rant. Here’s another reason why learning a foreign language is a good idea: Bilingualism Delays Onset of Dementia.
Speaking more than one language can delay the onset of dementia by four years, according to a research on bilingualism and cognitive impairment in old age.
The mental agility required to manage two or more language systems every day throughout one’s life, appears to enhance neural plasticity and enrich brain vasculature, staving off cognitive decline, Canadian researchers report in the February issue of the journal Neuropsychologia.
Preya said,
January 31, 2007 at 1:30 am
I agree that there needs to be a bigger emphasis on bilingualism in the US. It’s actually a very big deal where I teach, but we happen to be in a wealthy, highly educated area. Our school has one of the most extensive foreign language programs in the state, offering everything from Spanish and French to Japanese and Latin, so I feel lucky.