A new study is researching how elderly people appear to lose their ability to speak in their second language. It seems that those that have been living in a society using a second language start to insert words from their native language without even realising it. The study is investigating why this occurs and what can be done about it.
So, are we going to lose what we are currently learning as our brains age? Is there a way to keep our brains healthy and slow the degeneration? Or will we all have to retire in our native countries so people understand us?
When you get older they say that deterioration of your mental capacities comes about because you don´t use all the neuron pathways in your brain as often. So, the best thing to do when you´re older is continue to learn and practice what you know and do crossword puzzles. Then, hopefully, your brain will stay active and you won´t lose your second language, and your marbles.
That’s exactly what happened to my great grandmother. She moved from Mexico to the USA when she was about 13 years old and spoke English for most of her life. By the time I knew her, she was in her 80’s and had completely reverted back to Spanish. She could still understand English, just had no ability to speak it.