With the rise of the global economy and the increased diversity of cultures in this country, it goes without saying that speaking another language is an asset, and the more the better. However, research is showing that in addition to the social and economic advantages that being bilingual can give a person, there may be a valid health benefit, as well.

That is because speaking more than one language seems to work out your brain in a way that may help to protect against the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer's disease later in life. If a person did not learn another language when they were young, they can still achieve some level of protection if they start when they are older, and the more adept they become at another language, the better it is for their brain.

Previous research in bilingualism has focused on the effect on babies and children, who have an easier time learning more than one language. These children are often better at multitasking and display greater flexibility in learning and performing certain cognitive functions. However, the issue of whether speaking another language might protect a person against cognitive decline has always been a question.

This concept was examined in a study looking at people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. All of the patients displayed the same level of disease progression at the time their were diagnosed. The subjects were then divided into two groups: those that were monolingual, or spoke only one language, and those that were bilingual for most of their lives.

In the patients who were bilingual, the symptoms of their condition appeared on average four to five years later than the patients who were monolingual. The researchers were quick to point out that being bilingual did not prevent the onset of the disease, but may instead have a protective effect against the symptoms. This may be due to the level of mental acuity that is required to speak another language, which may in fact provide a buffer that slows the progression of the disease and helps patients to cope with their condition.

How another language may confer protection is still being studied, but researchers believe it may stem from the constant mental activity that is required to speak more than one language. In other words, when a person is bilingual, both languages are essentially active in the brain. This requires a level of mental awareness that is needed to distinguish between the different languages and to know which one to utilize at any given time.

Scientists point out that the benefits of an active mind do not necessarily apply only to language. In other words, just using your brain more often may in fact have some beneficial effect when it comes to aging and your brain. It is for this reason that aging experts encourage people to continue to engage their minds as they get older. These activities can help keep the brain more resilient in the event of aging or disease.