Human will get older and will decrease body functions, especially the brain. Increasing age will affect the way the human's brain works and thinks. The signs of decreasing brain work are like, we might experience difficulty remembering certain things like recent events or conversations, feeling lost in a place we have been to, forget someone's name, and all other kinds of forgetfulness. Those are all symptoms of decreased brain work and it is called dementia or Alzheimer. It usually affects elderly, people aged 65 to 80 years old and over. It is a scary disease for people because who wants to forget everything? Â However, human can prevent it by practicing or speaking two languages. Neuroscientists stated that learning a second language keeps human from the effects of dementia and Alzheimer's.
Dementia is a cognitive symptoms where human brain loss of functioning and behavioral abilities in remembering (memory), thinking, behaving, and speaking (language). Sign of dementia is when once healthy neurons (nerve cells) in the brain stop working, lose connection with other brain cells, and die. If you or someone you know is experiencing memory difficulties or other changes in thinking skills, don't ignore them. See a doctor to determine the cause.
The people who is affected by this symptoms usually speaks with just one language or monolingual. If somebody is monolingual, they always use one language and does not discover another language, then this will make them easily forget how to behave, which will affect their socialization ability. While the people with bilingualism are low-risk to get dementia because they spend a lifetime switching between languages. This is where the role of learning a second language is important.Â
Different from dementia, Alzheimer is the kind of dementia disease. It is more specific than its symptoms and a disease that is gradual and occur for a long time. Alzheimer sufferers find it difficult to talk or explain things, difficult to make decisions, and often look confused. Usually, people who is affected by this disease are 65 years old and over. Thus, learning a second language really can slow the rate of mental decline in patients with Alzheimer. Being fluent in two or more tongues stops patients of the devastating disease from eventually being robbed of their memory.
In conclusion, dementia and Alzheimer can be prevented. It can be prevented by learning a second language. Being bilingual, people will keep their brain working well as the switching process in language helps build up connectivity in the brain area. And without learning two or more languages human shall be affected by dementia nor Alzheimer's.
