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Reefhound

Feb 21, 2011, 7:17 PM

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Another reason to learn Spanish

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Learning a Second Language Protects Against Alzheimer's

Want to protect against the effects of Alzheimer's? Learn another language.

That's the takeaway from recent brain research, which shows that bilingual people's brains function better and for longer after developing the disease.

Psychologist Ellen Bialystok and her colleagues at York University in Toronto recently tested about 450 patients who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Half of these patients were bilingual, and half spoke only one language.

click the linked title for more...

(This post was edited by Reefhound on Feb 21, 2011, 7:18 PM)

surjo666

May 6, 2011, 2:04 AM

Post #2 of 8 (3021 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] Another reason to learn Spanish

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WOW!!!! Is this really true? If it is then this thought should be practiced more often....

TxMex

Sep 28, 2011, 7:38 PM

Post #3 of 8 (2244 views)

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Re: [surjo666] Another reason to learn Spanish

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Hey! I had this theory first! Actually it makes perfect sense once you realize the language center takes up the largest chunk of our brains.

morgaine7

Sep 28, 2011, 9:52 PM

Post #4 of 8 (2235 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] Another reason to learn Spanish

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Spanish is my fourth language, and I still forget stuff. Maybe it's the wine, or the substances I "didn't inhale" in college.

Seriously, this is wonderful news for retirement age folks who have been, or have recently become, language learners. It could be just the motivational nudge needed by those of our acquaintance who are reluctant to make efforts at Spanish.

Kate

StarrieKane

Apr 8, 2012, 11:38 PM

Post #5 of 8 (804 views)

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Re: [morgaine7] Another reason to learn Spanish

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Basically i was not interested in learning Spanish but last month my friend got engaged to a Spanish guy and hence she has to learn it and she insisted me also and that's why i am learning it.
Sublimation coating

La Isla

Apr 9, 2012, 8:44 AM

Post #6 of 8 (778 views)

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Re: [StarrieKane] Another reason to learn Spanish

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In Reply To

Basically i was not interested in learning Spanish but last month my friend got engaged to a Spanish guy and hence she has to learn it and she insisted me also and that's why i am learning it.

How nice that your friend is engaged to a Spanish guy. What part of Spain is he from?

Vichil

May 13, 2012, 12:09 PM

Post #7 of 8 (270 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] Another reason to learn Spanish

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My ex boss who spoke 5 languages fluently was jut diagnosed with early Alzheimer on set...Does that mean it would have had Alzheimer at age 30 rather than 50 or that he had Alzheimer at age 30 but did not get diagnosed until age 50??

mazbook1

May 13, 2012, 11:17 PM

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Re: [Vichil] Another reason to learn Spanish

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Probably the latter, Vichil. Early-onset Alzheimer's is a whole different thing than the more common late-onset Alzheimer's. Probably, or possibly, the same eventual result, but with quite a different (and little understood) cause.

(This post was edited by mazbook1 on May 13, 2012, 11:20 PM)