Being bilingual may give your brain the workout it needs to ward off the mental decline that comes with aging, a new study out of Toronto’s York University found. Researchers tested 104 people between the ages of 30 and 88 on vocabulary skills, non-verbal reasoning and reaction time. All of the subjects had university degrees and all came from middle-class homes, but while half spoke only English, the others were fluent in English and Tamil. « The bilinguals were more efficient at all ages tested and showed a slower rate of decline for some processes with aging, » said the study, which was published in the journal of Psychology and Aging. « It appears … that bilingualism helps to offset age-related losses. » « Being bilingual is like going to a brain gym, » said lead author Dr. Ellen Bialystok. Bialystok says speaking a second language causes physical changes in the brain, pumping up more blood to carry more oxygen. Previous studies have shown that keeping the brain active can protect against senile dementia. Research has shown that people who play musical instruments, dance or read regularly may be less likely to develop the condition. Other activities like doing crosswords or playing board games may also
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