A new study shows that people who speak multiple languages often have brains that appear younger than their chronological age. The most noticeable effect is in those who speak four languages: their brains are on average 13 years "younger" than those of monolinguals.
The data was presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum in 2026. Researchers from the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language in San Sebastian, led by Dr. Lucia Amoruso, studied residents of Spain's Basque region. Participants spoke between one and four languages from a set including Spanish, Basque, French, and English.
Scientists created a "brain aging clock" based on data from 728 people. Using magnetoencephalography and artificial intelligence, they identified typical patterns of brain connectivity at different ages. The model was then applied to a separate group of 144 participants.
The results were impressive. Bilinguals had brains roughly six years younger than monolinguals. For those who spoke three languages, the difference was about seven years. Four languages provided the maximum effect — 13 years.
The effect was amplified not just by the number of languages. Early onset of learning and high proficiency also played a role. "Multilingual experience works like a gradient: depth and duration matter, not just the fact of knowing a second language," noted Dr. Amoruso.
The analysis accounted for age, sex, and education. The researchers caution that other lifestyle factors may also influence the result. Now, the team plans to test whether the same pattern appears in people with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Professor Christina Dalla of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, who was not involved in the study, emphasized that learning languages at any age can support brain health alongside other healthy habits. Could regular language practice become one of the accessible ways to maintain cognitive resilience for longer?
The study was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the National Institute on Aging, and other organizations, including the Global Brain Health Institute.
