A landmark study in Nature Aging explores how multilingualism may serve as a modifiable factor in slowing biological aging. Led by Lucia Amoruso and collaborators, the research draws on extensive national surveys from 27 European countries, involving over 86,000 participants. By developing biobehavioral age gap models, the team quantifies discrepancies between chronological and predicted biological age, moving beyond prior studies limited by small samples and clinical biases to encompass diverse, healthy populations.
The approach leverages machine learning to integrate individual factors—such as functional abilities, education, cognition, cardiometabolic health, and sensory function—with country-level multilingualism indices. These models account for a range of confounders, including linguistic diversity, physical environments, social dynamics, and sociopolitical influences, providing a comprehensive view of aging trajectories.
The results indicate that multilingual settings foster delayed aging, with protective effects holding across cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses even after rigorous adjustments. This aligns with concepts of cognitive reserve, where language proficiency builds resilience against age-related decline, much like bilingualism's established role in postponing dementia symptoms.
For academic researchers and scientists, these insights open avenues for incorporating linguistic variables into aging research, from biomarker studies to intervention trials. On a societal level, promoting multilingualism could transform public health, empowering diverse communities to age more healthily, reducing healthcare burdens, and shaping inclusive policies that leverage language as a tool for equitable longevity worldwide.
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