Alzheimer's self-defense: Are two languages better than one?

Bilingualism might help reduce risk for Alzheimer's, psychologists now say.

/ istockphoto

(CBS/AP) - Two languages may be better than one when it comes to protecting your brain from Alzheimer's disease, recent research suggests.

The research focuses mostly on people who are truly bilingual and have been for many years, but scientists say learning a new language later in life might help.

Ellen Bialystok, a psychologist at York University in Toronto, studied 450 people with Alzheimer's. Those who were bilingual were diagnosed between four and five years later than those who spoke only one language. She discussed her research Friday at a science meeting in Washington.

More than five million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The disease is the fifth-leading cause of death.

[Partnersincare]

So many people who are trying to prove something about this disease, the most surprise me is this. are they saying being an intelligent will cause you disease?

[sevka-2009]

My cat is bi-lingual. Sometimes he says something like "ruff" or "woof".
Do cats develop Alzheimer's. My daddy, may he live 120 years, has Alzheimer's since 2000. He was an athlete all of his life and speaks 4 languages. I understand causality, inference, regression, chance and tendency, this strikes me like one of those "oral sex causes cancer" scaremongering tactics by people who make money off of our ignorance and gullibility. To make us this stupid, however, they had to destroy publilc education first. And by George they did!

[sevka-2009]

Who comissioned this "finding", Rosetta Stone, Inc.

[Janfebmarapr]

This study obviously explains why the US has the highest rate of Altzheimers and why the US has the highest percentage of bilingual citizens (25%).
GIVE ME A BREAK WITH THIS IDIOTIC GARBAGE!
Anyone who believes this study is a brainless fool.
I like the way other so called "scientists" just accept this garbage without even looking into the supporting statistics.
Few so called "scientists" have the intelligence, guts, or education to question stupid junk science.
That is why the world is falling apart and we are making no progress in real innovations in energy or medicine.

[longtree-2009]

psychologists aren't medical doctors, they are just glorified therapists that can administer outdated tests that an mft or lcsw are not licensed to administer. when it comes to any of them, it's buyer beware. many of them lose their licenses for crimes such as fraud, dui, sex with their clients and so much more. do your homework before opening your life issues to any of them.

[pragmatist1]

Is this an attempt at inferring that people should learn, oh let's say, Spanish just to prevent alzheimers or dementia? I can just see the mandatory primary and secondary school curriculum forcing kids to learn both English and Spanish, to ah, begin preventative medical steps in their formative years.

[Janfebmarapr]

I thought the same thing until I researched the issue and the US was bilingual in 2005 as a nation.
We all know Altzheimers is most probably related to either natural or man made chemicals in our environment, that we ingest or inhale.
Fluoride? Chlorine? Auto exhaust? Aluminum in cooking pots and cans? Radiation from TV and cell phones? Gasses from building materials?
Artificial sweetners? MSG? But we can't question those because corporations make big money off those things.

[RetLAEnvEmployee]

In the french speaking parts of Louisiana, senior dementia residents at nursing homes often loose the ability to speak english and can only converse in french because as children and young adults they did not speak english except at school. Alzheimer's and dementia can often affect the most recent memories/learnings first.

[Molly-Pchr]

Are they kidding? but not for nothing, my mom, God rest her soul, used to go in and out of hepatic "comas". She was not comatose, but if she didn't take her medicine, she would not know who any of us were. They would give her this little cup of a chalk-like drink, and as long as she took it, she was fine. So Dad remembered for her. But are they sure all these folks have Alzheimer's and not perhaps something like my mom? They were called hepatic comas. Anyone from the medical here?

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
je suppose que les chercheurs ont raison,
aussi apprendre les langues fait travailler les neurones, l'exercice preserve
apprenons!
=======================
I guess that researchers are right,
also learn the language works the neurons, exercise preserves
grandmas and grandpas to your pens!
"au revoir"

[gig76]

Texas has Rattlesnake round ups and calf fries events. Better ware protective gear. Texas bites.

[voxpopulus]

Alzheimer's?