If you are a senior, learning Spanish can bring countless benefits to your life, like delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, keeping your brain healthy or build your self-confidence.
In this article, we will explain some of the benefits senior people can get by learning Spanish.
Prevent memory loss and increase your mental fitness
Many studies have proved that learning a second language has positive effects on the brain and also a protective effect on memory. Learning a new language is like going to the gym: it helps with working memory and attention span and may avoid experience memory loss and other cognitive problems as we age.
Increase your brain power
Due to its neuroplasticity, the adult brain is a dynamic and changeable structure in response to new experiences. Learning a new language develops new neural pathways in the brain and makes new connections because we use different parts of our brain that we weren't using before.
Delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia
Some neurological studies have suggested that early development of a second language may improve a cognitive function in later life and experience a later onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Researchers at Edinburgh University found that the bilinguals developed dementia later than monolinguals, by an average of four-and-a-half years. And it is a fact that when we switch between different sounds, grammatical structures, and words while learning a new language, we are training our brain by varying thoughts and behaviors.
Meet new people and make friends
One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen relationships is to learn a new language. You need to practice and develop your language skills, and a good starting point of conversation is sharing the same interest in a language and culture. You can have a conversation with a local exchange student or a senior who comes from a different country.
It helps you travel confidently
Retirees and seniors have more opportunity for traveling and getting immerse themselves in another culture, which is one of the best ways to learn a second language. By communicating with the locals in their own language, you will gain confidence and build self-confidence.
It is an occupational therapy
While learning a new language is beneficial to people of all ages, it is especially helpful to seniors, who tend to have more free time on their hands for this task. Apart from keeping cognitive decline at bay, learning languages can help develop study strategies, literacy skills, mnemonic devices, and other resources.
It adds emotion to elderly people’s lives
Challenging yourself with language learning can bring new expectations to your life. Traveling, meeting new people, learning about other countries and cultures are just some of the exciting benefits you can get by speaking a second language.
Finally, in addition to stimulating your brain to delay the onset of Alzheimer's, it is also worth reviewing the benefits of food supplements, such as turmeric.
Do you know any other benefits seniors can get by learning Spanish?
Let us know what you think! Feel free to share your comments below.
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