Linguist: Learning a language keeps aging brains healthier
Research on bilingualism suggests language learning engages cognitive reserves and may delay dementia symptoms.
What to know
- Language learning engages multiple cognitive processes simultaneously, creating sustained mental exercise that may strengthen brain structure in aging adults.
- Research shows bilingual people have greater gray matter density and may delay dementia symptoms compared to monolingual speakers.
- Bilingualism builds cognitive reserve—the brain's resilience to aging—but does not prevent dementia or underlying brain changes.
- Adults can gain cognitive benefits from learning a new language later in life, not just from lifelong bilingualism.
“Language learning engages several mental processes at once, requiring people to absorb and retrieve information, notice when something does not work out, and adjust. This sustained mental effort makes language learning a particularly rich form of cognitive exercise.”
Karen Stollznow, Senior Research Fellow of Linguistics · The Conversation ↗
Karen Stollznow Linguist and research fellow
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Ars Technica republishes Stollznow's language research
The research was picked up by Ars Technica, extending its reach to a broader science and technology audience.
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Bilingualism may be one of the most effective tools for maintaining cognitive health as we age https:// arstechnica.com/science/2026/0 9/learning-another-language-may-be-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-your-brain-healthy/ # science # neuroscience # language
2 more of the top 3 · 27 posts in this stretch
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All of the the research I have seen on this topic have been observational retrospective studies, which are worthless and should be ignored. The confounders on the group of people who are able to learn a second language (let alone a third or more) are so large that they cannot be overcome without a randomized control. This stuff is churnalism…
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Huge reason to feel good about our brain's health, as multilingual readers and writers. https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/09/learning-another-language-may-be-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-your-brain-healthy/ #Science #Brain #Languages
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Stollznow clarifies language learning is not dementia prevention
The linguist emphasizes that learning another language is not a cure for aging or a guarantee against Alzheimer's disease. The potential benefit is greater resilience in facing age-related changes rather than prevention of the underlying disease.
“Learning another language is not a miracle cure for aging, and it cannot guarantee protection against Alzheimer's disease.”
— Karen Stollznow -
background
Research shows bilingualism alters brain structure and delays dementia — Stollznow cites studies showing that bilingual people have greater gray matter density and stronger white matter integrity compared to monolingual speakers. Some studies found that bilingual people who develop dementia show symptoms at a later age, suggesting bilingualism may provide resilience against brain aging effects.
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background
Stollznow publishes research on language learning and brain aging — Karen Stollznow, a senior research fellow in linguistics, released findings examining how language acquisition affects cognitive health in older adults. She notes that language learning engages multiple mental processes simultaneously—remembering words, recognizing patterns, working out grammatical rules—creating sustained cognitive exercise.
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first by HN Frontpage, 4d ago · also The Conversation, Ars Science, Ars Technica
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What people are saying 18 voices from 2 sites · best of 27 · verbatim
- Sep 20
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I find that I am having a different personality in each (3) languages I speak, especially in context in a different country. When I switch back to my original language to speak to someone in said country my habits I do in my original country come back for the part and then I revert back. Feels a bit schizophrenic, but I think it is normal for most…
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There are a lot of things you can do to make yourself healthier (both physically and mentally) if you have an organized life and you allot time for enriching activity, whether that be recreation or learning a language or learning a new instrument. The key is to be stable enough in your life where you can comfortably alott that time.For me…
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Research suggests that bilingualism can offer cognitive benefits. # science # neuroscience # language https:// arstechnica.com/science/2026/0 9/learning-another-language-may-be-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-your-brain-healthy/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into FLIPBOARD EXCHANGE FEED 🗞️ @ flipboard-exchange-feed-Econopass
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(this is not a comment on you, or anyone, rather rant, or a comment on myself)> but not sure what's going to happen next.You don't know that.I'd suggest start doing it ASAP. I lost so many previous years of my 30s due to COVID and the avalanche of fear and anxiety and isolation that came with it. A breakup that happened literally days before the…
- Sep 19
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> social aspects of learning another languageMaybe if you are near the native speaking country, or potentially if there are significant numbers of immigrants.But knowing Spanish adds nothing social within New Zealand.I had a Spanish girlfriend when 30, which made learning Spanish rather incentivised, and I embedded overseas for many months to…
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I am an actual linguist, in a subfield that requires me to continually learn new languages, and there are no social benefits. I definitely don't get out there. Once one is a man over the age of 40 or so, local people are rarely willing to talk to you at any length, you are not interesting any more (in fact, in some cultures, local people will have…
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Note that languages can alternatively also be conlangs (constructed languages). They are in fact a lot more interesting and systematic than traditional human languages. Granted, you'll find no real-life people who verbally speak the conlang outside of arranged group calls within online communities.
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Learning another language is difficult, but never occured to me to think it would be somehow impossible to anyone. It might be that having english as your native language puts you in a uniquely difficult position as it is the default international language. World is getting smaller and people coming from smaller languages usually also learn the…
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I don't think it's really possible to learn a new language unless you have to. Sure, you can learn some words and grammar from books and games like Duolingo, but you'll never really learn the language if you don't use it, and you'll only use it if you have to. This is why it's hard for English natives to learn another language: too many people…
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I am trilingual. All of my languages belong to different language groups; I regularly read and write in both directions. I use all of the three languages every day. I can also bulldoze my way through a text in a fourth language given a dictionary and a reference for its grammar. I can read the alphabet of a fifth language (mostly w/o understanding…
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You also get to learn another culture which to some extent prevents you from becoming an a.hole. Lack of foreign language instruction in k-12 education in the USA might be a little correlated with this...
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Anyone have experience learning a new language in their 30s? I've tried and failed a few times. I can't tell if the time constraints (family, work, life) or mental constraints are the bigger problem.
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And it is only getting easier to learn a language now too. What FINALLY got me over the hump with Spanish was YouTube and discovering resources like Dreaming Spanish (leveled content for comprehensive input that probably exist in most major languages). Content that was fun and at my level.Mix into that a weekly lesson with italki from your home…
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A second language, almost from the start, will also open up a whole second world for you.When I go to somewhere that speaks Spanish the whole place “jumps into 3D” for me. I can understand what people at the table next to me are complaining or laughing about, I can make small talk with people, I don’t have to follow the “avocado toast” trail that…
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Well, now that everyone has had it several times, including you, it's probably safe to go to a language meetup.
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The biggest obstacle to learning a foreign language is that it's so much slower and more frustrating than using your native language, right? Compared to your native-language typing speed, even English typing speed is only half...So it's really frustrating. how do you all relieve that frustration?
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Before Covid I got my German B1 certificate. I was diligently going to German-speaking meetup twice a week.One of the meetups had a bunch of googlers in it regularly. One of them was a loud gregarious Italian from the north. He was telling me a story about cleaning fish and chopping their heads off with a machete and how he cut the end of his…
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I had a massive stroke. I should be in a wheelchair. I'm mostly fine now.It's postulated that my multilingual abilities helped, among other things.