Tuesday, 17 May 2011
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Learning Another Language Delays Alzheimer's Disease
Most high school and college students around the world would do anything to avoid completing their foreign language requirement. Well here's an incentive to start paying attention and loving your next French class.
According to a study conducted by York University in Canada, scientists found that knowing more than one language could delay the side effects of Alzheimer's disease by up to five years.
Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia. Signs of the disease include memory lapses, confusion, emotional instability and gradual loss of mental ability. The signs usually begin to appear by late middle age. The cause is unknown.
By learning another language the brain is able is to tune out other thoughts. This ability is referred to as "executive thought."
"Executive thought" means the brain is working to its full capacity making it harder for the brain to fall victim to Alzheimer's.
It is harder for the brain to learn a second language during middle age. So it's never too late to purchase Rosetta Stone while you're in high school or college!
Would you ever take up another language? If so which one? How many languages and which languages do you all know how to speak??
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- From: Olympia
- About Me: I'm a broadcast journalism and anthropology major. Health and science are my nerdy passions. I hope my blogs motivate, inform and sometimes shock you, but only in a good way of course :) Twitter: OlympiaBardis
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Comments (5)
I speak spanish & english,
ive taken french & latin but eh im no bueno at it(x
I want to speak Chinese & German(:
I learned French at Uni, had to take four semesters of it. Glad to hear it'll be good for something, heh.
Most people end up having at least a "little bit of Alzheimer's" in their brains by the time they die, whether they show it or not. But there are ways to get around the damage. Being social, feeling like you have a purpose in life, having many varied life experiences, not being depressed, and being well-educated (like learning other languages
) help the brain to compensate for the damage. It also helps to have good genes.
That's interesting, but this blog is misleading. Reading the article says that the /lifelong use/ of another language is the key, not just learning one. That means that one needs to learn and keep using the language for as long as possible. It can delay the onset of the symptoms but it does not prevent one from getting it. There are some theories out there about why we get AD but we still don't know the answer. While there is currently no way to arrest, prevent, or cure the disease, there is definitely hope for the future.
And I know French, Spanish, Latin and English. I am also learning Japanese.
I loved languages in high school ;)
And I know English, Spanish, and German. in case anyone actually cares. I took a year of Chinese in high school, but the only things I remember now are select useful words & phrases like 'hello,' 'goodbye,' 'thank you,' 'red pen,' and 'you are my whiteboard.'
and the picture... umm... spañolo...????