Unlike commercially available brain training products, language learning does appear to have transfer effects, and evidence that lifelong bilingualism confers certain advantages is beginning to emerge. Bilingualism requires switching between languages and selecting the correct vocabulary, among other tasks that exercise so-called executive functions such as reasoning, task switching, and problem solving. Furthermore, learning a second language apparently has neuroprotective effects; thus it may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, even when it takes
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