The science team includes internationally renowned cognitive researcher Dr. Fergus Craik of the Rotman Research Institute; Dr. Ellen Bialystok of York University, a leading expert in bilingualism research; and Dr. Morris Freedman, one of Canada’s leading clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

According to Dr. Craik, lead investigator and co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Memory, “We are not claiming that bilingualism in any way prevents Alzheimer’s or other dementias, but it may contribute to cognitive reserve in the brain, which appears to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms for quite some time.”

The brains of people who speak two languages still show deterioration from Alzheimer’s pathology; however, their special ability with two languages seems to equip them with compensatory skills to hold back the tell-tale symptoms of Alzheimer’s, such as memory loss, confusion, and difficulties with problem-solving and planning.

“These results are especially important for multicultural societies like ours in Canada where bilingualism is common,” said Dr. Bialystok. “We need to understand how bilingualism changes cognitive ability, especially when there are clinical implications as in this case.”

The current study adds to mounting scientific evidence that lifestyle choices such as regular cardiovascular exercise, a healthy diet, and speaking more than one language-can play a central role in how the brain copes with age-related cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Originally posted on our newsletter here.