Multilingualism increases life expectancy

Could having a sharp vocabulary extend your lifespan? A new study suggests that strong verbal fluency—basically, how quickly you can recall and use words—may predict how long you’ll live.

Key Facts & Findings

• Berlin aging study: Researchers tracked 516 adults (70–105 years old) for up to 18 years.
• Singular predictor: Verbal fluency stood out as a key indicator linked to longevity.
• Test of choice: One approach asked participants to name as many animals as possible in 90 seconds.
• Complex process: Verbal fluency relies on memory, vocabulary, and efficient mental organization—possibly mirroring whole-body health.

Tandem of aging

The brain and body age in tandem; so how we express ourselves might reflect overall wellness. “You’re basically flexing multiple mental muscles at once,” said lead researcher Paolo Ghisletta. The team used new data-crunching techniques, combining them with decades-old observations, to pinpoint verbal fluency as a unique longevity signal.

Stay mentally active

What does this mean for you? Keep learning, stay mentally active, and challenge your linguistic skills (think word puzzles or new language lessons). Future studies will dig deeper into why language agility is so powerful—and how we can harness it for longer, healthier lives. For now, talk it out—your words might just help you live longer.