Takeaway
Bilingual individuals demonstrate less white matter disintegration and later dementia onset.
Why this matters
Dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder that results in cognitive decline and memory deterioration in affected individuals. It has been suggested that bilingualism may enhance cognitive functioning and delay the onset of dementia.
Understanding the effect of bilingualism on key regions of the brain linked to the brain’s memory circuity may inform new methods to prevent or delay the development of dementia.