bilingualism may counter effects of aging
By Jennifer WarnerWebMD Medical News
June 14, 2004 -- Two languages may be better
than one when it comes to keeping the mind
young. A new study shows that being fluent
in two languages may help prevent some of
the effects of aging on brain function.
Researchers found that people who were bilingual
most of their lives were better able to
stay focused on a task amidst a rapidly
changing environment compared with people
who only spoke one language.
The ability to keep one's attention on a
task is known as fluid intelligence, and
it is one of the first aspects of brain
function to deteriorate as people get older.
Researchers suggest that that the ability
to stay focused and to manage attention
while ignoring irrelevant information may
involve some of the same brain processes
involved in using two languages. This means
bilingualism may offer a wide range of benefits
for keeping the mind sharp and fighting
the effects of aging.
In the study, which appears in this month's
issue of the journal Psychology and Aging,
researchers compared the reaction time of
a task performed by a group of bilingual
and monolingual middle-aged (30- to 59-year-olds)
and older (60- to 88-year-olds). The task
measured brain thinking processes known
to decline with age.
For example, in one test the participants
watched flashing squares on a computer screen
and were asked to press a particular colored
key when they saw a square in a certain
location of the screen. Half of the squares
were presented on the same side of the screen
where the correct key was located and the
other half of the squares were on the opposite
side of the screen to where the correct
key was located.
Then the number of squares was also increased
and other distractions were introduced to
analyze reaction time.
Researchers found that in all phases of
the testing, both younger and older bilingual
adults performed the task faster than those
who only spoke one language, regardless
of positioning of the squares or the speed
in which the squares were presented.
More importantly, researchers say that the
bilingual participants were also less distracted
by unnecessary information.
All of the bilinguals in the study had used
their two languages everd˙Qyday since they
were 10 years old, and researchers say that
the life-long experience of managing two
languages may prevent some of the negative
effects of aging on processing of distracting
information.
SOURCES: Bialystock, E., Psychology and
Aging, June 2004; vol 19: pp 290-303. News
release--American Psychological Association.
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