The Study
Multilingualism protects against accelerated aging in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of 27 European countries
This study found that in countries where more people speak more than one language, older people tend to have healthier bodies and brains. But it doesn't prove that speaking extra languages makes you age slower — maybe those countries just have better schools, healthcare, or less stress, and those things are what really help.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
People who speak two or more languages tend to have brains that look younger than their actual age, even when other health factors are considered.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 559 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — this is like having a brain that’s 6–13 years younger, which could mean staying sharper and more independent longer in old age.
- 2Monolinguals were 2.11 times more likely to have an older-looking brain; people speaking two extra languages were 1.96 times less likely.
- 3Over time, multilinguals had a 30% lower risk of aging faster.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nature aging
Year
2025
Authors
Lucia Amoruso, Hernan Hernandez, Hernando Santamaría-García, Sebastian Moguilner, Agustina Legaz, Pavel Prado, Jhosmary Cuadros, Liset Gonzalez, Raúl González-Gómez, Joaquín Migeot, Carlos Coronel-Oliveros, J. Cruzat, Manuel Carreiras, Vicente Medel, M. Maito, C. Durán-Aniotz, Enzo Tagliazucchi, Sandra Baez, Adolfo M. García, Agustín Ibáñez
Related Content
Claims (6)
People who speak multiple languages have brain structures that are 6 to 13 years younger in appearance compared to people who speak only one language.
Adults aged 51–90 living in countries where more people speak multiple languages have a 54% lower odds of accelerated biological aging and a 30% lower risk of developing accelerated aging over time, after accounting for socioeconomic, physical, and sociopolitical factors.
Adults aged 51–90 in 27 European countries who speak two or more additional languages have a 49% lower odds and a 20% lower risk of accelerated aging compared to those who do not, and this difference becomes larger with increasing age.
Adults aged 51–90 who speak only one language have a higher rate of accelerated aging than those who speak multiple languages, even after accounting for income, health, and social factors.
People who speak multiple languages tend to show signs of slower aging compared to those who speak only one language, even when accounting for differences in country-level factors such as wealth, pollution, and social equality.
Adults aged 78 to 90 who speak two or more additional languages show a slower rate of age-related decline compared to those who speak fewer languages.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.