It’s a no-brainer – being multilingual in today’s world gives you a leg up in many ways. It opens up entire worlds that are closed off to those that can only speak one language. These benefits extend past social, monetary, and academic. Studies have shown that learning more than one language can actually change the brain!
Physically, the brains of people who are bilingual have denser regions of gray matter, which makes up parts of the brain responsible for memory, self-control, and language. [1] Since the brain has more plasticity, or malleability, when it is younger and still developing, this phenomenon is more pronounced in people who learned the second language early in their life, especially before age 5. [2]
These physical changes in the brain are responsible for advanced learning and memory. Studies have shown that bilingual children on average are better than monolingual children at tasks involving executive function. [3] They are better at focusing, have greater inhibitory control, and have a better working memory! Like gray matter density, these effects are heightened when the exposure to the second language is early in life and immersive.
Learning a second language at a young age can also protect the brain from neurological disorders that often occur in old age, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This is due to bilingualism contributing to cognitive reserve, the brain’s resilience. [4] This cognitive reserve is so powerful that it can delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by four years! [5]
Bilingualism’s effects on the brain are undeniable. So give your child the greatest gift – help your little one become multilingual! And let Smart Coos help you give that gift!
Contributed to by Aarushi Sharma.
