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Bilingualism may delay onset of dementia |
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Canadian scientists studying how lifestyles may affect dementia in later life have stumbled upon one factor, namely bilingualism, which appears to delay the onset of dementia by 4 years.
Scientists at the Rotman Research Institute at the Baycrest Research Center for Aging and the Brain studied the clinical records of 184 patients who had visited the Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic between 2002 and 2005. They found that those who spoke two or more languages throughout their life tended to show an onset of symptoms of dementia by the age of 75.5, compared to 71.4 for those who only spoke one language.
Additionally, these findings seem to transcend even factors of culture, immigration, education levels, employment and gender.
The discovery will be published in the February 2007 issue of Neuropsychologia (Vol 45, No 2).
You can view the full story in Medical News Today by clicking here. |
