Speaking multiple languages could boost people's cognitive skills
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 09, 2013 22:17 PM

If people's parents moved to the U.S. from a foreign country, there is a good chance they grew up hearing and speaking more than one language. These individuals are among those who may want to take an IQ test, as their childhood experiences switching between different languages could have had a positive effect on their cognitive abilities.

The findings of a recent study from researchers at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine provide evidence that supports this theory. After working with bilingual and monolingual senior citizens between the ages of 60 and 68, the researchers found that switching from one task to another comes much easier for them than it does for single-language speakers.

"This study provides some of the first evidence of an association between a particular cognitively stimulating activity - in this case, speaking multiple languages on a daily basis - and brain function," said John L. Woodard, an aging expert from Wayne State University, who played no role in the study.

While individuals may not see the value in learning multiple languages in their youth, this study shows that switching between them can actually make their mind more flexible later in life.