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Multilingualism and aging: Country-level patterns may not support individual-level causal claims

delete2026-02-01
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PRE
AI
A
Arturo E. Hernandez *
M
My V.H. Nguyen
F
Ferenc Bunta
DOI：10.1016/j.bandl.2026.105735delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
A recent study reports that people living in European countries with high multilingualism show healthier brain aging than those who live in more monolingual environments. We argue that the study design conflates living in countries where multilingualism is relatively more common with participating in transnational professional networks. The six-year life expectancy gap between high-and low-multilingualism countries provides an alternative explanation regarding observed differences in cognitive aging better than language experience itself. The findings describe interesting geographic patterns but may not support claims that multilingualism causes healthier aging.
Keywords:
Multilingualism
Cognitive aging
Brain health
Country-level patterns
Causal claims

Journal

Brain and Language cover
Brain and Language
IF:
2.3
Papers:
97
Citations:
6.2K

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U
University of Houston
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921
Papers: 535
Citations: 1.7W
U
University of Houston System
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660
Papers: 337
Citations: 23
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