Strategies to preserve cognitive abilities in the eldery: the role of learning a foreign language

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the main actions taken by elderly people to contribute for the enhancement of brain plasticity in these individuals, focusing on bilingualism and on the process of learning an additional language. In order to do that, we have researched about the development of brain plasticity in the elderly, focusing on the learning of a second language at this age. In addition, we have carried out a field research, where we applied a questionnaire to five subjects asking them about activities that they do that may contribute to their cognitive preservation. Data analysis has shown that, although there is not an evident concern about memory preservation for the majority of the participants of this study, the elderly have carried out activities that, in some way, contribute to memory preservation, such as the practice of reading and physical exercises