A strong ability in languages may help reduce the risk of developing dementia, says a new University of Waterloo study.
The research, led by Suzanne Tyas, a public health professor at Waterloo, examined the health outcomes of 325 Roman Catholic nuns who were members of the Sisters of Notre Dame in the United States. The data was drawn from a larger, internationally recognized study examining the Sisters, known as the Nun Study.
The researchers found that six percent of the nuns who spoke four or more languages developed dementia, compared to 31 percent of those who only spoke one. However, knowing two or three languages did not significantly reduce the risk in this study,…
