Second Language Benefits include Delaying the Onset of Alzheimers!

Groundbreaking Research confirms New Benefits to Second Language Acquisition

Many second language benefits are obvious and well-known. The main one being the great satisfaction and utility of being able to converse, or 'operate' at various levels in another language. This opens one's ability to communicate to often huge numbers of other people.

However recent research conducted at Toronto's Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic - SIRMC further confirms what many scientists have already established... and that is that second language acquisition - and its USE - leads to improved mental skills, better 'brain operation' and great mental agility. The research team led by Dr ellen Bialystock of York University, Toronto found that bilingualism can delay the onset of Alzheimers.

Studying 211 Alzheimer's patients at the SIRMC they found that the disease was first reported an average of five years and one month later for the 102 bilingual patients versus the 190 monolingual patients. The bilingual patients were on average four years and four months older than the monolingual.

Dr Bialystok presented their findings to the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference, and the team believes that bilingualism strengthens the brain's "cognitive reserve" which is its ability to cope under stressful conditions, meaning that bilingual people are better able to cope with the effects of Alzheimer's. The switching between one language and another is a stimulating activity which builds up higher levels of cognitive reserves. It is like a "brain game" or brain exercise, and delivers significant benefits.

Other Second Language Benefits ... more neural pathways!!

Other research shows that bilingual people and children have an improved ability to learn and absorb new information that monolinguals. Each time one learns a new word, phrase or concept new neural pathways are laid out in the brain, boosting its overall capacity with every new concept.

So ... another great reason to get learning a new language or three!! If you are not already doing so - take advantage of the second language benefits of better brain power and mental agility ... get language learning now. Keep learning, practising and speaking your second language skills.

Adapted from a report by Mark Henderson in The Times, 19 February, 2011.


French for jeer = bafouer Cartoon Memory triggers are an important part of the 200 Words a Day! Excelerated Learning techniques... (*** excelerated = accelerated and excellent learning!). Quicker learning, deeper retention, longer retention and better long term recall of new words and phrases!

Learn to Speak Spanish Learn Spanish
200 Words a Day Courses 1 and 2 cover basic vocabulary - each of 1,000 common words and phrases; Spanish e-Flashcardz; Spanish Sentences courses complement the vocab courses; Grammar courses - Understanding Por y Para and Understanding Ser y Estar; 101 Spanish Proverbs; and more coming ...

Speak French Learning Learn French
If French is the language you choose to avail yourself of benefits of second language learning you can start gaining a no-risk insight into the 200 Words a Day French methods by subscribing to our free French learners' email newsletter.

Learn to Speak German Learn German

200 Words a Day German Courses 1 and 2 cover basic vocabulary - each of 1,000 common words and phrases; German Sentences courses complement the vocab courses; German e-Flashcardz for all words; 101 German Proverbs; and more ...


Learn to Speak Italiano Learn Italian
200 Words a Day Italian speaking courses include 1,000 words of vocabulary - with cartoons and e-Flashcardz; Italian Sentences; Italian GRAMMAR SLAMMER and SENTENCE BUILDING course with 3,000 learning pages covering basic to intermediate Italian; our Italian TurboBoosters which enable you to learn 4,000+ words in a snap -- in just a couple of weeks! Get the second language benefits with Italian!

Learn to Speak Welsh Learn Welsh
Learn Welsh for those second language benefits that boost your mental agility. 1,000 basic most common words of Welsh; also 1,000 Welsh Flashcards.

200 Words a Day! Accelerated Language Learning


200 Words a Day! Second Language Benefits include delaying Alzheimers Disease!
200 Words a Day! and Exceltra ©Copyright 2004-2023 All Rights Reserved
Second Language Learning Made Fun and Fast with Cartoons, Memory Triggers, and lots of WAYS to LEARN and REMEMBER stuff when learning to speak a new language. Lots of free newsletters too, and loads of free verb tables.

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave us a comment in the box below.