How a 15-minute 'awe walk' drastically improves mental health
Move over, forest bathing.
01 October, 2020
Credit: Robsonphoto / Shutterstock
- A new study found that weekly 15-minute "awe walks" have positive effects on mental health.
- Volunteers reported higher levels of gratitude and compassion after eight weeks of these short walks.
- Researchers believe this low-cost intervention could help prevent cognitive decline in older adults.
<p>Watch out <a href="https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/ecotherapy-benefits" target="_blank">forest bathers</a>, you have competition.</p><p>Perhaps better put, you have an addition to your ritual. According to a <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037/emo0000876" target="_blank">new study</a>, published in the journal Emotion, one surefire way to improve your mental health is by taking regular 15-minute "awe walks." </p><p>Researchers at the UC San Francisco Memory and Aging Center and the Global Brain Health Institute wanted to see if these focused walks in the woods could improve prosocial emotions in seniors. The team chose this cohort due to longstanding links between cognitive decline and mental health problems associated with anxiety and depression. </p><p><a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/09/418551/awe-walks-boost-emotional-well-being" target="_blank">According to</a> associate professor Virginia Sturm, loneliness is particularly damaging to older adults and can help drive the onset of Alzheimer's disease. She was quite happy with the results. </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"What we show here is that a very simple intervention – essentially a reminder to occasionally shift our energy and attention outward instead of inward – can lead to significant improvements in emotional well-being."</p><p>The walking group was comprised of volunteers in their sixties to eighties. Each participant was told the study was about exercise, when in reality their task—taking a selfie at the end of each walk—revealed the actual intentions of researchers. </p>
Finding Happiness Through "Awe Walks"
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0988a4421b47d7cdc45d740014a53b17"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-nVx6SriWPM?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Importantly, participants were instructed to observe details while walking around the forest. If the goal was only exercise, volunteers were likely to power through trails without noticing their surroundings. This is where awe comes into the picture.</p><p>UC Berkeley psychologist Dacher Keltner <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/09/418551/awe-walks-boost-emotional-well-being" target="_blank">explains</a> the relevance, noting that feelings of awe help us feel more generous and humble, while increasing our overall well-being. </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Awe is a positive emotion triggered by awareness of something vastly larger than the self and not immediately understandable — such as nature, art, music, or being caught up in a collective act such as a ceremony, concert or political march."</p><p>The post-walk selfie is key. Week after week, their smiles grew larger. Incredibly, their bodies shrunk in the photos—the photographer stepped back to include more of nature. Instead of the normal close-ups we associate with selfies, volunteers naturally became more integrated with their environment, without any prompting from the research team.</p><p><a href="https://bigthink.com/21st-century-spirituality/individualism-is-spreading-and-thats-not-good" target="_self">Research</a> on individualist versus collectivist societies shows that the members of individualist societies tend to prioritize independence and autonomy. These seem like positive qualities, though higher rates of anxiety and depression are reported in such cultures. By contrast, collectivist societies emphasize interdependence, which ultimately makes members feel like they're part of a bigger landscape. </p><p>This is exactly what was reflected in those selfies. </p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ1MzQ0NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTg1ODkzMX0.x8zLKLALb_kM43eNALUrRhMB_GKkjCxkPdjdgaYgSrM/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C43%2C0%2C164&height=700" id="7e1fa" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ec4fd502a5e6a273154a44a7a6591a33" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p class=""><br></p>Credit: Rudmer Zwerver / Shutterstock
<p>Classical Japanese art offers plenty of examples of interdependence. Humans are rarely the focal point in these landscape paintings. People only appear as part of a much larger scene. This trend cuts across Buddhist art, perhaps unsurprisingly given the philosophy stresses collectivity. Happiness levels tend to be higher in these societies than in individualist nations.</p><p>America, arguably the global leader in individualism, has <a href="https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2019/the-sad-state-of-happiness-in-the-united-states-and-the-role-of-digital-media/" target="_blank">continually ranked lower</a> on world happiness charts over the last 40 years. Meanwhile, our rates of Alzheimer's disease <a href="https://bigthink.com/mind-brain/alzheimers-risks" target="_self">rise</a> every year.</p><p>Can a 15-minute awe walk change all of that? Not completely, but we'll take whatever help we can get. As mythologist Joseph Campbell <a href="https://www.jcf.org/works/quote/awe-is-what-moves-us-forward/" target="_blank">once remarked</a>, "awe is what moves us forward." He cited awe as a primary driver in the creation of mythology: the overwhelming sensation that you're part of something grand. </p><p>As Sturm says, this is a low-cost, worthwhile means for alleviating distress and filling people with gratitude and compassion. Given the state of the world, those qualities are in high demand. </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"I find it remarkable that the simplest intervention in the world – just a three-minute conversation at the beginning of the study suggesting that participants practice feeling awe on their weekly walks – was able to drive significant shifts in their daily emotional experience. This suggests promoting the experience of awe could be an extremely low-cost tool for improving the emotional health of older adults through a simple shift in mindset." </p><p>--</p><p><em>Stay in touch with Derek on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/derekberes" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DerekBeresdotcom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://derekberes.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Substack</a>. His next book is</em> "<em>Hero's Dose: The Case For Psychedelics in Ritual and Therapy."</em></p>
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The surprising future of vaccine technology
We owe a lot to vaccines and the scientists that develop them. But we've only just touched the surface of what vaccines can do.
30 September, 2020
- "Vaccines are the best thing science has ever given us," says Larry Brilliant, founding president and acting chairman of Skoll Global Threats. From smallpox, to Ebola, to polio, scientists have successful fought viruses and saved millions of lives. So what's next?
- As Covaxx (formerly United Neuroscience) cofounder Lou Reese explains in this video, the issue with vaccines is that they don't work against "non-external threats." This is a problem, especially now when internal threats (things that cause cancers, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses) are killing people more than external threats like viruses.
- The future of vaccine tech, which scientists are already working toward today, is developing safe vaccines to eradicate these destructive internal agents without harming our bodies in the process.
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Only 35 percent of Americans know the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
Yet 80 percent of respondents want to reduce their risk of dementia.
25 September, 2020
Photo: Lightspring / Shutterstock
- A new MDVIP/Ipsos survey found that only 35 percent of Americans know the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
- Eighty percent of respondents said they want to reduce their risks.
- An estimated 7.1 million Americans over the age of 65 will suffer from Alzheimer's by 2025.
<p>An estimated 5.8 million Americans over the age of 65 live with Alzheimer's disease. That number is increasing: within five years, The Alzheimer's Association <a href="http://www.apple.com" target="_blank">predicts</a> there will be 7.1 million. In 2020, $51.2 billion dollars in Medicaid payments will be made to treat nearly six million patients suffering from this condition. </p><p>Even though Alzheimer's is a well-known disease—it's the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm" target="_blank">sixth-leading cause of death</a> in the US—it turns out that it's not well understood. According to a <a href="https://www.mdvip.com/about-mdvip/press-room/study-finds-many-americans-dark-about-dementia-and-alzheimers-disease-uncovers-how-pandemic2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new survey</a> conducted by MDVIP/Ipsos, only 35 percent of Americans know the symptoms even though 80 percent of respondents want to reduce their risks. </p><p>Specifically, 74 percent of respondents didn't realize hearing loss damages the brain; 72 percent didn't know diabetes is a risk factor for dementia (the disease that Alzheimer's often leads to); 64 percent were ignorant of the fact that lack of sleep shrinks brain size; and half of respondents didn't know the impact of emotional well-being on brain health. Over half of those surveyed also didn't realize high cholesterol and poor dental care play a role in Alzheimer's disease. </p><p>The researchers also discovered disturbing COVID-19-related data. While 58 percent of adults report changes in sleep, 57 percent note mood swings, and 51 recent suffer from emotional withdrawal during this time, only 8 percent are looking for professional help. </p><p>Dr. Andrea Klemes, MDVIP Chief Medical Officer, notes that checkups during the pandemic are especially important. </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"We don't yet know the long-lasting consequences that the pandemic will have on the brain, and we hope that research such as ours will continue to shine a light on this very serious health issue."</p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQzOTcwMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzODEwNjQ2MH0.SkBZOSDR_-4XzrhdlPOmRG5abK7PyPfmP2Vx0Fjxma4/img.jpg?width=980" id="9f4fd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="647ffdcb7190a84173786b183dc4f930" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p class=""><br></p>Credit: logika600 / Shutterstock
<p>Remaining healthy requires regular screenings. Here again we see a disassociation between risk reduction and proactivity. Seventy-seven percent of respondents don't talk to their doctors about lifestyle habits that support brain health; 51 percent have never been screened for depression; 44 percent have never had a neurological exam; and 32 percent have never been screened for hearing problems. </p><p>Common early warning signs of dementia, <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/americans-worry-alzheimers-disease-survey-140644803.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">according to</a> Dr. Jason Karlawish, co-director of the Penn Memory Center, include repetitive questions and stories, difficulties with complex daily tasks, and trouble with orientation. </p><p>In terms of intervention, <a href="https://bigthink.com/21st-century-spirituality/does-lack-of-exercise-lead-to-dementia" target="_self">exercise</a>, <a href="https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/obesity-dementia" target="_self">diet</a>, building a <a href="https://bigthink.com/mind-brain/brain-reserve" target="_self">brain reserve</a>, and challenging your brain (such as learning a new language or musical instrument) are all proven methods for staving off the ravages of Alzheimer's. Oxytocin has also <a href="https://bigthink.com/mind-brain/alzheimers-oxytocin" target="_self">showed promise</a> in brain-addled mice, while researchers found positive results for a <a href="https://bigthink.com/mind-brain/intermittent-fasting" target="_self">group of intermittent fasters</a> in promoting neurogenesis. </p><p>Epidemiologist Bryan James says that dementia is <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/04/15/176920391/how-exercise-and-other-activities-beat-back-dementia" target="_blank">not an inevitable result</a> of aging. </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"It's simply not pre-destined for all human beings. Lots of people live into their 90s and even 100s with no symptoms of dementia." </p><p>Professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, Andrew Budson, <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/americans-worry-alzheimers-disease-survey-140644803.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recommends</a> aerobic exercise and the Mediterranean diet. As has long been known, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish and shellfish, and healthy fasts like nuts and olive oil seem to have brain-boosting properties. </p><p>To learn more, take the <a href="https://www.mdvip.com/brain-health-iq-quiz" target="_blank">Brain Health IQ quiz</a>.</p><p><span></span>--</p><p><em>Stay in touch with Derek on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/derekberes" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DerekBeresdotcom" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://derekberes.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Substack</a>. His next book is</em> "<em>Hero's Dose: The Case For Psychedelics in Ritual and Therapy."</em></p>
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Does forgetting a name or word mean that I have dementia?
The number of people with dementia is expected to triple by 2060.
24 September, 2020
Photo by Connor Wang on Unsplash
The number of cases of dementia in the U.S. is rising as baby boomers age, raising questions for boomers themselves and also for their families, caregivers and society.
<p> <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/aging/dementia/index.html" target="_blank">Dementia</a>, which is not technically a disease but a term for impaired ability to think, remember or make decisions, is one of the most feared impairments of old age.
</p><p>
Incidence increases dramatically as people <a href="https://news.umich.edu/one-in-7-americans-over-age-70-has-dementia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">move into their 90s</a>. About 5% of those age 71 to 79 have dementia, and about 37% of those about 90 years old live with it.
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Older people may worry about their own loss of function as well as the cost and toll of caregiving for someone with dementia. A 2018 study estimated that the lifetime cost of care for a person with Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, to be <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alzheimers-costs-americans-277-billion-a-year-report/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">US$329,360</a>. That figure, too, will no doubt rise, putting even more burdens on family, Medicare and Medicaid.
</p><p>
There's also been a good deal of talk and reporting about dementia in recent months because of the U.S. presidential election. Some voters have asked whether one or both candidates might have dementia. But, is this even a fair question to ask? When these types of questions are posed – adding further stigma to people with dementia – it can unfairly further isolate them and those caring for them. We need to understand dementia and the impact it has on more than 5 million people in the U.S. who now live with dementia and their caregivers. That number is <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/aging/dementia/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">expected to triple</a> by 2060.
</p><p>
First, it is important to know that dementia cannot be diagnosed from afar or by someone who is not a doctor. A person needs a detailed doctor's exam for a diagnosis. Sometimes, brain imaging is required. And, forgetting an occasional word – or even where you put your keys – does not mean a person has dementia. There are different types of memory loss and they can have different causes, such as other medical conditions, falls or even medication, including herbals, supplements and anything over-the-counter.
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Older people wonder and worry about so-called senior moments and the memory loss they perceive in themselves and others. <a href="https://uvahealth.com/findadoctor/profile/laurie-r-archbald-pannone" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">I see patients like this</a> every week in my geriatric clinic, where they tell me their stories. They forget a word, get lost in a story, lose keys or can't remember a name. Details vary, but the underlying concern is the same: Is this dementia?
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<h2>Normal memory loss</h2><p>As we age, we experience many physical and cognitive changes. Older people often have a decrease in recall memory. This is normal. Ever have trouble fetching a fact from the deep back part of your "mind's Rolodex"? Suppose you spot someone at the grocery store you haven't seen in years. Maybe you recognize the face, but don't remember their name until later that night. This is normal, part of the expected changes with aging.</p><p>What's more of a <a href="https://geriatricscareonline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">potential problem</a> is forgetting the name of someone you see every day; forgetting how to get to a place you visit frequently; or having problems with your activities of daily living, like eating, dressing and hygiene.</p><p>When you have troubles with memory – but they don't interfere with your daily activities – this is called mild cognitive impairment. Your primary care doctor can diagnose it. But sometimes it gets worse, so your doctor should follow you closely if you have mild cognitive impairment.</p><p>You want to note the timing of any impairment. Was there a gradual decline? Or did it happen all of a sudden? This too you should discuss with your doctor, who might recommend the MoCA, or <a href="https://www.mocatest.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Montreal Cognitive Assessment</a> test, which screens for memory problems and helps determine if more evaluation is needed.</p><p>Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists problems in these areas as <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/aging/dementia/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">possible signs of dementia</a>:</p><ul><li>Memory</li><li>Attention</li><li>Communication</li><li>Reasoning, judgment and problem solving</li><li>Visual perception beyond typical age-related changes in vision</li></ul>
<h2>More severe issues</h2><p>When memory loss interferes with daily activities, see your doctor about what to do and how to make sure you're safe at home.</p><p>There are numerous types of severe memory loss. Dementia tends to be a slow-moving progression that occurs over months or years. Delirium is more sudden and can occur over hours or days, usually when you have an acute illness. Depression can also cause memory changes, particularly as we get older.</p>
<h2>Dementia and other brain issues</h2><p>Alzheimer's dementia is the most common type of dementia, followed by vascular dementia. They have similar symptoms: confusion, getting lost, forgetting close friends or family, or an inability to do calculations like balance the checkbook. Certain medical conditions – thyroid disorders, syphilis – can lead to dementia symptoms, and less common types of dementia can have different kinds of symptoms. Alzheimer's has a distinct set of symptoms often associated with certain changes in the brain.</p><p>Focusing on safety and appropriate supervision, particularly in the home, is critical for all people with dementia. Your doctor or a social worker can help you <a href="https://www.alz.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">find support</a>.</p><p>It's also important to be aware of two other things that can lead to decreased mental functioning – delirium and depression.</p><p>Delirium, a rapid change in cognition or mental functioning, can occur in people with an acute medical illness, like pneumonia or even COVID-19 infection. Delirium can occur in patients in the hospital or at home. Risk for delirium increases with age or previous brain injuries; symptoms include decreased attention span and memory issues.</p><p>Depression can happen at any time, but it's more common with aging. How can you tell if you're depressed? Here's one simple definition: when your mood remains low and you've lost interest or joy in activities you once loved.</p><p>Sometimes people have recurring episodes of depression; sometimes, it's prolonged grieving that becomes depression. Symptoms include anxiety, hopelessness, low energy and problems with memory. If you notice signs of depression in yourself or a loved one, see your doctor. If you have any thoughts of harming yourself, call 911 to get help instantly.</p><p>Any of these conditions can be frightening. But even more frightening is unrecognized or unacknowledged dementia. You must, openly and honestly, discuss changes you notice in your memory or thinking with your doctor. It's the first step toward figuring out what is happening and making sure your health is the best it can be.</p><p>And, as with any disease or disease group, dementia is not a "character flaw," and the term should not be used to criticize a person. Dementia is a serious medical diagnosis – ask those who have it, the loved ones who care for them or any of us who treat them. Having dementia is challenging. Learn <a href="https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">what you can do </a>to support those with dementia in your own community.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/144565/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation"></p><p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/laurie-archbald-pannone-894205" target="_blank">Laurie Archbald-Pannone</a>, Associate Professor Medicine, Geriatrics, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-virginia-752" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">University of Virginia</a></em></p><p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-forgetting-a-name-or-word-mean-that-i-have-dementia-144565" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">original article</a>.</p>
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5 things that happen to your brain when you learn a new language
Never has the bar to entry been so low and the recognized benefits so high.
29 July, 2020
Credit: Digital_Art_Studio / Shutterstock
- Learning a new language has been shown to sharpen your cognitive abilities while helping stave off dementia as you age.
- A University of Chicago study found that businesspeople make better decisions when weighing problems in a non-native tongue.
- Juggling multiple languages lets bilingual speakers switch between tasks with less stress and more control than monolinguists.
<p>In an increasingly globalized world, some believe you only need to speak English in order to engage in international business. As language expert David Crystal explains in his book, <em>How Language Works</em>, this is a false assumption. In Europe, for example, Crystal points out speaking multiple languages is "seen as a criterion of responsible international citizenship."</p><p>Crystal writes that multilingualism prepares children to cope with a constantly changing society. Of course, learning a new language isn't confined to the young: there are myriad benefits at every age. We list five important brain-boosting features of learning a foreign language below. </p><p>From increased tolerance and employment opportunities to a wide range of memory and problem-solving skills, foreign languages teach us about others as well as ourselves. When you speak in a new language you gain perspective on the reality you've constructed around your original tongue. Not only do you speak differently, you learn how to think differently. </p><p>Whether doing it for others or yourself, the many benefits of multilingualism are available through a variety of online courses and apps like <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1145301&u=2216766&m=77900&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank">Rype</a> or <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-9285647-13349269" target="_blank">Babbel</a>. Never has the bar to entry been so low and the recognized benefits so high.</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6d6ee338c7b9c97cee963292f952f549"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Evbwtef8_-g?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><h3>1. A boon for cognition</h3><p>Your muscles become weak when you stop training them. They even atrophy over time. The human brain works in much the same manner. When you stop learning, neural connections are weakened. This results in forgetfulness and potentially dementia. </p><p>One of the best means for staving off dementia is learning a new language. As a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6077199/" target="_blank">2018 review</a>, published in the journal <em>Frontiers in Human Neuroscience</em>, puts it, "One of the non-pharmacological approaches, which may enhance cognitive abilities and protect against the decline in healthy older population, seems to be the learning of a foreign language."</p><p>You can grow new neuronal connections at any age provided you keep learning. Foreign languages force you to think differently. A language lesson is like a session in the brain gym. The most effective way to not lose your memory is to keep using it—a necessity when learning a language. Besides memory enhancement, languages improve overall cognitive functioning, raise self-esteem, and increase opportunities for socializing, all necessary skills in aging populations. </p><h3>2. Improve your decision-making skills</h3><p>A <a href="https://news.uchicago.edu/story/thinking-foreign-language-helps-economic-decision-making" target="_blank">unique study</a> at the University of Chicago found that businesspeople make better decisions when weighing problems in a non-native tongue. UChicago psychologist Boaz Keysar argues that foreign languages force you to contemplate decisions instead of relying on intuition, which is riddled with biases. As people tend to be loss-averse, they sometimes overlook favorable opportunities. By considering a business opportunity presented in a foreign language, they have to spend more time thinking through all angles of every deal. This reduces the emotional pull of a risky endeavor while revealing potential avenues that have not been considered. This skill makes you a better critical thinker in every language you speak. </p><h3>3. Creativity unleashed!</h3><p>An <a href="https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Cognitive-Benefits-Language-Learning-Final-Report.pdf" target="_blank">extensive review</a> of the benefits of multilingualism indicate a strong connection between creative flexibility, fluency, and originality. How often have you heard a non-native English speaker make a unique observation with a combination of words you've never heard but that make complete sense? New languages cause you to picture landscapes of possibilities. Choosing the proper term for a feeling or thought is itself an act of creation. During the first few years of life we do this at a rapid pace. As you age, you become more deliberate in your word choice. New languages free you from the conventions of habit. Expressing yourself in a new language is a creative act, and that mindset translates into other realms of life. </p>
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<h3>4. Increased attention</h3><p>We live in an attention economy and many people suffer from a deficit. When you hear a word or phrase being spoken, your brain actually guesses at the completed statement. We're constantly guessing reality all the time. Interestingly, bilingual speakers don't turn off one language when listening to another. They're anticipating words from multiple languages all the time, according to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583091/" target="_blank">an article</a> published in the journal, <em>Cerebrum</em>. As the authors write, </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"To maintain the relative balance between two languages, the bilingual brain relies on executive functions, a regulatory system of general cognitive abilities that includes processes such as attention and inhibition." </p><p>Because bilingual speakers must navigate two (or more) languages during every conversation, their brain is primed for attention. This results in greater executive control of their cognitive functions, which is a great advantage in the current attention economy. </p><h3>5. Masters of multitasking</h3><p>Research from Penn State <a href="https://news.psu.edu/story/392426/2016/02/13/research/language-juggling-rewires-bilingual-brains" target="_blank">found</a> bilingual speakers have enhanced cognitive flexibility, which facilitates new learning. This follows a <a href="https://news.psu.edu/story/160653/2011/02/18/research/juggling-languages-can-build-better-brains" target="_blank">study</a> at the same university that discovered juggling multiple languages affords the speaker greater cognitive control, allowing the speaker to code-switch with ease. This ability to juggle languages lets them switch between tasks with less stress and more control than monolinguists. Instead of bogging the bilingual speaker down when searching for the right language, speaking in multiple tongues actually speeds up their ability to jump from mental task to mental task.</p><h3>Interested in learning a new language?</h3><p>The most effective way of learning a new language is putting it into action. <strong><a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-9285647-13349269" target="_blank">Babbel</a></strong> is an online language pioneer that immerses you in real-life dialogues from day one. Courses are based on your native language and interests. Babbel's language experts devise a series of cognitive techniques that helps the information stick. Best yet, the app's speech recognition offers instant feedback. You'll be conversing quickly while retaining the words and phrases you learn. <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-9285647-13349269" target="_blank">Learn more here.</a></p><p>Some people simply learn better with an actual human teacher. That's where <strong><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1145301&u=2216766&m=77900&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank">Rype</a></strong> comes in. You can learn any of this services' 10 languages in one-on-one lessons with expert teachers via Skype. The average retention of Rype learners is 90 percent—well above most apps or classrooms. Flexible scheduling with 24/7 availability means you learn at your convenience with a real human being. That feedback is irreplaceable. There is a 7-day free trial—<a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1145301&u=2216766&m=77900&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank">learn more here</a>.</p><p><em>If</em><em> you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn an affiliate commission. This helps support our team's work. You can also subscribe to <a href="https://www.bigthinkedge.com/" target="_blank">Big Think Edge</a> and check out our <a href="https://teespring.com/stores/big-think" target="_blank">merch</a>.</em></p>
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