New Delhi: Individuals who can switch between different languages while speaking have a younger brain than others, according to new research.
The findings, presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026 on 6 July, indicate that every extra language learned makes the brain appear younger. The research builds on an earlier peer-reviewed study published in the journal Nature Aging in November 2025.
The research was presented by Lucia Amoruso of the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language in San Sebastian, Spain, with collaborators from research institutions in Chile, Argentina, and Ireland. The team found that people who spoke more languages tended to have patterns of brain communication associated with a younger brain. More youthful-looking brain activity was also associated with more experience with a second language and better skills.
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Challenging the brain
To estimate brain age, scientists developed an AI model trained on magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings from 728 people. MEG measures the tiny magnetic signals given off when brain cells talk to one another. After learning how connectivity in the brain changes with age, the AI model was tested on a separate group of 144 individuals from Spain’s Basque region, where many people regularly use Spanish, Basque, French, and English.
AI-driven analysis of brain activity was compared to the individual’s actual age, and the results were remarkable. People who spoke two languages had brains that appeared about six years younger than monolingual participants. The estimated difference increased to around seven years among people who spoke three languages and about 13 years among those who spoke four languages.
“In simple terms, people who spoke more languages tended to have brains that looked younger than expected for their chronological age,” said Amoruso, while presenting the findings at FENS 2026.
“The effect was not only related to the number of languages spoken. Higher language proficiency and earlier acquisition of a second language were also associated with more delayed brain aging. This suggests that multilingual experience matters as a gradient: it is not simply about being bilingual or not, but about the depth and duration of language experience,” she added.
Researchers controlled for age, sex, and education in the analysis. According to them, the findings do not indicate that multilingualism causes slower brain ageing directly. Other aspects, like lifestyle and social involvement, might impact brain health.
The researchers now intend to look for similar patterns in those with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. They also hope to find out whether speaking similar languages puts more of a strain on the brain and thus strengthens the processes involved in switching languages.
Professor Christina Dalla of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, who was not involved in the research and chairs the FENS Forum communication committee, said the findings add to evidence that mentally challenging activities may support healthy ageing.
“We know that many factors can influence our brain health and mental abilities as we age,” Dalla said.
“This study suggests that learning a second, third or fourth language could help our brains to stay younger for longer, and the earlier we start, the better,” she added.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
