Speaking another language could be one of the simplest – and most surprising – tools for slowing down the ageing process, according to a huge new European study.
Researchers analysed data from more than 86,000 adults across 27 countries and found that people who speak multiple languages were more than twice as likely to show signs of healthy ageing than those who only speak one.
Their work, led by academics in Spain and Argentina, used AI to calculate each volunteer’s “biobehavioural age gap” – the difference between their real age and their biological age.
Multilingual people consistently came out younger.
Scientists believe juggling multiple languages keeps the brain stimulated, strengthens neural pathways and may protect against age-related decline.
The findings add weight to research showing mentally demanding activities – including board games, learning new skills and regular reading – help preserve cognitive health into old age.
The study forms part of a broader effort to understand why ageing is accelerating across much of the Western world. In the US, 76 per cent of adults now live with at least one chronic condition, up from 72 per cent a decade ago.
Overdose deaths, obesity and soaring rates of long-term illness have all kept life expectancy stuck at around 79 years, one of the lowest among wealthy nations.
While biohackers chase longevity through strict regimens and expensive supplements, scientists say far cheaper, evidence-based habits can make a real difference.
Research increasingly shows that physical activity, healthy eating, quality sleep and stress reduction can all slow biological ageing.
An eight-week programme combining aerobic and strength exercise was recently shown to reduce participants’ biological age by two years, while a nutrient-rich diet trimmed another 2.4 years in a separate NIH study.
Sleep may be even more crucial. People over 50 who sleep fewer than five hours a night have up to a 40 per cent higher risk of developing multiple chronic conditions, while heavy alcohol use, smoking and vaping are also proven to accelerate molecular ageing.
Experts agree that lifestyle, far more than genetics, dictates how quickly we grow old – and that keeping the mind active may be just as powerful as keeping the body moving.
