Implications of Neural Plasticity and Bilingualism

    Bilingualism has many benefits such as an increased awareness of other cultures and even an economic advantage to others, however, advantages of bilingualism that are often overlooked are those that aid in our health. Specifically, how do the skills of bilingualism help prevent and delay neurologic diseases like dementia. Although the nature of a study that explores this phenomenon presents many obstacles, such as controlling for many variables, which could lead to varying results, a non-experimental study investigating dementia and bilingualism was conducted. It was found that individuals who acquired their second language at a young age significantly delay the onset of dementia, while those who acquire their second language later in life are unlikely to experience these benefits of bilingualism. (Atkinson, 2016) When further looking at how bilingualism affects individuals, we see some alterations which may relate to Atkinsons' findings.

In looking at how the brain develops in relation to language acquisition, Berken et al. (2017) compare the structure and function of the brain in sequential and simultaneous bilinguals. It was found that those who developed bilingualism from an early age have distinctly different brain structures than those who developed their second language later in life/ after the critical learning period. (Berken et al., 2017) Specifically, a greater amount of gray matter volume in the left and right premotor cortex would be expected in those who learned a second language sequentially rather than simultaneously. (Berken et al., 2017) Therefore it is apparent that those who acquire a second language from a young age have differing and strengthened neural networks compared to those who acquire their second language later in life. These networks could relate to the delayed onset of dementia, a characteristic observed in those who have early attainment of a second language. These strengthened connections throughout the brain could possibly resist more plaque damage, a chief cause of dementia, and manage neural network connections for longer, therefore delaying the symptoms of dementia. This highlights how the importance of neural plasticity and not only aid in learning, but also how small alterations to neural networks can cascade into overall health. 

 

            

Works Cited

Atkinson, A. L. (2016). Does bilingualism delay the development of dementia? Journal of European Psychology Students, 7(1), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.5334/jeps.375 

Berken, J. A., Gracco, V. L., & Klein, D. (2017). Early bilingualism, language attainment, and brain development. Neuropsychologia, 98, 220–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.08.031