![\"brain](\"http:\/\/akikolingoland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/brain-pic.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLearning a new language can indeed be quite a tedious task. But if the conclusion of this study is anything to go by, it seems that all the effort spent memorizing and drilling would eventually be a good trade-off!<\/p>\n
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Nov 11, 2010 Speaking two languages can help delay the onset of Alzheimer\u2019s symptoms by as long as five years, a new study has shown.<\/em><\/p>\n While researchers carrying out the study stress that bilingualism does not prevent Alzheimer\u2019s or other dementias, it appears to have delayed symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and difficulties with problem-solving and planning.<\/em><\/p>\n The study, published in the current issue of Neurology, was done by researchers at the Rotman Research Institute, part of the Baycrest academic health sciences centre in Toronto. Examining the clinical records of 211 Alzheimer\u2019s patients at Baycrest from 2007 to last year, they found that those who spoke two or more languages consistently over many years experienced a delay in the onset of their symptoms by as long as five years.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018We are not claiming that bilingualism in any way prevents Alzheimer\u2019s or other dementias but it may contribute to cognitive reserve in the brain, which appears to delay the onset of Alzheimer\u2019s symptoms for quite some time,\u2019 said lead investigator Fergus Craik.<\/em><\/p>\n The subjects\u2019 brains still showed deterioration from Alzheimer\u2019s regardless of language skills, though speaking two languages appeared to have slowed down the onset of some of the symptoms. There are currently no drug treatments that can delay the symptoms of Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/em><\/p>\n The study adds to a growing body of research which shows that multilingualism comes with certain types of improved mental performance and could provide health benefits to Alzheimer\u2019s patients, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).<\/em><\/p>\n In a 2007 study led by Dr Ellen Bialystok of York University, researchers found that bilingual dementia patients experienced a delayed onset of their symptoms compared with monolingual patients.<\/em><\/p>\n In an interview with ABC last month, Dr Bialystok said: \u2018We have demonstrated in at least two separate studies of several hundred people altogether that \u2013 all else being equal \u2013 people who have spent their lives speaking two languages are better able to cope with the pathology of Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018They show symptoms of the disease up to four years later than monolinguals. Once the disease starts to destroy areas of the brain, bilinguals are able to keep functioning.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n The longer people have spoken multiple languages, the greater the cognitive effects. There are even benefits when languages were taken up at later ages. \u2018We have not seen a cut-off,\u2019 she said.<\/em><\/p>\n But bilingualism comes with some cost, experts have said. \u2018For bilinguals, there are a couple of milliseconds before you can target the right word in the right language. Bilinguals have more \u2018tip-of-the-tongue\u2019 problems,\u2019 said Dr Bialystok.<\/em><\/p>\n AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Learning a new language can indeed be quite a tedious task. But if the conclusion of this study is anything to go by, it seems that all the effort spent memorizing and drilling would eventually be a...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[293,96],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-musings"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\nBilingualism slows onset of Alzheimer\u2019s<\/strong>
\nSymptoms delayed for those using 2 languages consistently, says study OTTAWA (CANADA):<\/p>\n
\nLead investigator Fergus Craik<\/p>\n<\/div>\nIf you’ve enjoyed this, don’t forget to hit one of the sharing buttons below, and do join me on<\/span> Google+<\/span><\/a>\/ Facebook<\/span><\/a>\/\u00a0Youtub<\/span><\/a>e\/\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\/ Pinterest<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"