Nimble Minds

Fresh from a country with two official languages: a new Canadian study suggests that being bilingual will, on average, postpone the onset of dementia by 4.1 years. Even after adjusting for schooling and immigration status, the results were unequivocal: being a polyglot (or at least a biglot) fights brain rot. What’s not clear is why. Researchers speculate the ability to operate in two languages could — like exercise or stimulating leisure and social activity — help the brain continue normal functions even as it decays physically. Just don’t expect great things from your French refresher course. The study, appearing in the February issue of Neuropsychologia, defines bilingual as “regularly using at least two languages” throughout adulthood — and there’s no evidence that flipping through phrase books will help. Quel dommage.