TORONTO -- Learning another language -- even if you don’t become fluent -- helps to stimulate brain health, according to a new study.
Duolingo is a well-known smartphone app that helps users learn other languages, by having a green cartoon owl prompt them to perform exercises every day to practice.Previous studies have found that being bilingual helps the brain to stay in shape more than those who only know one language, with bilingual people being less likely to develop dementia earlier in life.
The tests ranged from clicking ‘yes’ or ‘no’ quickly to judge brain processing speed, or correctly identifying the ink colour of a series of words . Researchers found that overall, those learning a new language saw similar improvements as the brain-training group when it came to working memory and executive function, which is the ability to begin and switch tasks and manage information.