The Herald Scotland – Andrew Denholm
“LEARNING a foreign language can improve mental agility, researchers have found. Tests carried out on modern language students found they were quicker at switching their attention between tasks compared to a group studying humanities. Academics from Edinburgh University who conducted the study said the results confirmed the cognitive benefits of learning in general and language learning in particular. Dr Thomas Bak, from Edinburgh University’s Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, said: “Our study demonstrates that learning languages is not only good for a person’s career and social life, but also has beneficial effects on cognitive functions, which go well beyond the language itself.” The research builds on two previous studies which suggested that speaking a second language could improve thinking skills in later life and help delay the onset of dementia.”(more)