What if one of the most powerful tools for protecting your brain as you age isn’t a supplement or a workout—but a second language? This week on Aging Less: The Longevity Science Insights Podcast, host Sabrina Oktavelia is joined by Professor Monika S. Schmid, an internationally recognized expert in language and cognition, to explore how multilingualism can promote lifelong brain health, delay cognitive decline, and contribute to a longer, healthier life.

Monika Schmid is a Professor of Linguistics and Cognitive Aging with extensive experience studying the intersection of language acquisition, memory, and neuroplasticity. Her research sheds light on how multilingual individuals develop greater cognitive flexibility and resilience—both critical factors in maintaining mental sharpness well into older age.

In this episode, Professor Monika S. Schmid breaks down the concept of cognitive reserve and explains how multilingualism strengthens the brain’s executive control functions and language systems. She shares compelling findings from linguistic and cognitive research that show how speaking multiple languages enhances mental flexibility, attention control, and resistance to age-related cognitive decline.

Sabrina and Professor Monika S. Schmid also delve into the differences between bilingualism and multilingualism, the impact of when a language is acquired, and how language switching enhances mental agility. From brain reserve to problem-solving capacity, they explore how multilingualism acts as a protective factor against age-related neurodegeneration.

Whether you’re a lifelong learner, a curious traveler, or someone looking to future-proof your brain, this episode offers science-backed strategies for using language as a tool to age less—mentally, emotionally, and neurologically.

Tune in this week to uncover how speaking multiple languages might just be one of the most powerful habits for living longer, thinking sharper, and aging better!

Follow Professor Monika S. Schmid’s work on the following platforms:
Language Attrition: languageattrition.org 
University of York: https://www.york.ac.uk/language/people/academic-research/monika-s-schmid/ 

Produced by the Longevity Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

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