Science confirms: Learning a second language improves brain health
Recent scientific and specialized studies have concluded that learning a second language leads to an improvement in human brain health, which accordingly leads to an improvement in all functions that it performs.
According to an article by the American researcher, Christine Lawrence, published by the “Poor of Positivity” website, studies have shown that learning a second language can enhance brain health and improve cognition.
The article, which was reviewed by Al Arabiya Net, said that the latest research showed that about 22% of children in the United States speak a second language besides English at home, and other research shows that about 17% of Americans aged eighteen and over are Polyglots.
And the American researcher reviews how to enhance brain health by learning a second language, as she points out that “increasing evidence shows that learning a second language can enhance students’ academic performance, as studies have found that bilingual students scored higher in reading comprehension and standardized exams than students who know English language only.
Studies also confirm that the second language strengthens the mind just like exercise helps in building muscles and improving physical health, as learning a new language can contribute to a healthy mind. Brain scans of bilingual people have revealed that they have more gray matter in certain areas of the brain than monolinguals, and studies have also shown that speaking multiple languages can rewire the brain and change its basic structure.
The article says that “a second language also enhances attention, as many people today suffer from a short attention span due to a myriad of distractions.” However, a study from the University of Cambridge indicates that learning a second language can boost brain health by increasing attention. “.
Also, “learning a second language protects against neurodegenerative diseases, which are diseases that affect the elderly more than others due to the decrease in gray and white matter in the brain.”
The researchers noted that “bilingual people had reduced rates of dementia and cognitive impairment compared to monolinguals, and they also recovered more quickly from serious health problems such as strokes or brain injuries.”
And the American researcher says that “learning a second language also increases the ability to multitask, as studies have found that bilingual people who speak multiple languages often unintentionally engage in something called code switching, in which the speaker can easily alternate between two languages depending on the social context.” Code switching allows bilinguals to multitask efficiently, making them more efficient in ordering work settings.
The article says that learning a second language enhances a person’s creativity, expands memory, and enhances empathy, and that the second language increases self-esteem, helps expand the capacity of the brain and creates new synapses in the brain.
