It’s not about genetics or racial background. People from certain countries have their habits that can daily enhance memory and intelligence.
Finland has topped the UN's happiness ranking for several years in a row. According to researchers, the main characteristics include income, health, freedom in making key decisions, and the ability to rely on someone.
Recently, scientists from Adolfo Ibáñez University, along with colleagues from the USA, Ireland, and Turkey, conducted a study that identified several countries where the smartest people live. The experts focused on adults over 50 years old and the elderly. The number of men and women in this age group is increasing, and besides physical health, it is also important to maintain cognitive reserve for a productive and happy old age.
In total, the experts analyzed data from over 86,000 healthy adults aged 51 to 90 from 27 European countries. A computer model assessed a person's age based on information about daily activities, education, cognitive functions, risk factors, and the presence of chronic diseases.
Comparing this "estimated age" with a person's chronological age allowed researchers to determine the so-called "biobehavioral age gap" (BAG), comments Professor Oksana Drapkina on the study. A gap of less than zero indicated slowed aging, while a gap greater than zero indicated accelerated aging.
Following this, the experts decided to investigate how prevalent multilingualism was in the countries of the participants. It turned out that if a person knew only one language, their biological aging was significantly accelerated.
Thus, multilingualism proved to be a protective factor in both cross-sectional (OR = 0.46) and longitudinal (RR = 0.70) analyses. When the experts adjusted for physical, social, and socio-political factors, their conclusion remained the same.
Countries with High Levels of Multilingualism Include:
Luxembourg,
the Netherlands,
Finland,
Malta.
In these countries, locals speak at least 1-2 foreign languages. Both men and women maintain mental clarity even in old age, look good, and lead active lifestyles.
Countries with Low Levels of Multilingualism Include the United Kingdom, Hungary, and Romania. In these countries, few people are proficient in at least one foreign language.
Why does learning a new language have such a powerful effect? The fact is that when a person chooses a language to speak, their brain must activate the corresponding neural connections and prevent interference from others.
"This acts as a workout for the brain and strengthens the neural networks responsible for attention and cognitive control. That is, the organ is constantly trained to remain adaptive, resilient, and young," says Oksana Drapkina.
If you have long wanted to recall the forgotten English or German from school, now is the time to start. Even memorizing new words is excellent brain training, not to mention language practice.
