Become bilingual

Speaking a second language from childhood on can protect against dementia. But what if you haven’t already learned a language? Good news: In another study, people gained protection even if they learned the second language as an adult. “Millions of people around the world acquire their second language later in life,” study author Dr. Thomas Bak of the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom told the BBC. “Our study shows that bilingualism, even when acquired in adulthood, may benefit the aging brain.”