How Spanish Can Boost Your Brain After 55

​Did you know that learning Spanish—or any second language—can help keep your brain sharp as you age? Studies show that bilingualism may delay the onset of dementia and support stronger memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities.
In a landmark study, Bialystok et al. (2007) found that bilingual older adults showed symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease 4–5 years later than monolinguals. Bak et al. (2014) confirmed that even learning a second language later in life is linked to better cognitive health. Brain scans by Gold et al. (2013) further showed that bilinguals have more efficient brain networks for attention and control.
For Americans and Canadians 55 and over, learning Spanish is both practical and powerful. With over 42 million Spanish speakers in the U.S. and growing Hispanic communities across Canada, Spanish is increasingly part of everyday life—whether you're traveling, connecting with neighbors, or enjoying Spanish-language films and TV.
Want a fun way to start? Watch these Spanish-language shows and movies available in the U.S. and Canada:

1. Gran Hotel – Elegant mystery drama (Netflix)
2. Velvet – 1950s romance and fashion (Amazon Prime)
3. La Reina del Sur – Action-packed crime drama (Netflix)
4. Roma – Oscar-winning drama (Netflix)
5. Club de Cuervos – Comedy meets soccer (Netflix)
6. Instructions Not Included – Touching family story (Amazon Prime)
7. Pan’s Labyrinth – Dark fantasy with heart (HBO Max, Crave)
8. El Tiempo Entre Costuras – Historical romance and espionage (Amazon Prime)

Start with subtitles, enjoy the stories, and you might just pick up more Spanish than you expect. It's never too late to boost your brain—and broaden your world. 
Join us to practice Spanish, online, every week. Our group classes are fun, interactive and interesting! Write to us: [email protected]
References:

• Bialystok, E., Craik, F. I. M., & Freedman, M. (2007). Bilingualism as a protection against the onset of symptoms of dementia. Neuropsychologia, 45(2), 459–464.
• Bak, T. H., Nissan, J. J., Allerhand, M. M., & Deary, I. J. (2014). Does bilingualism influence cognitive aging?Annals of Neurology, 75(6), 959–963.
• Gold, B. T., Kim, C., Johnson, N. F., Kryscio, R. J., & Smith, C. D. (2013). Lifelong bilingualism maintains neural efficiency for cognitive control in aging. Journal of Neuroscience, 33(2), 387–396.
• U.S. Census Bureau. (2020). Language Use in the United States: 2019. American Community Survey Reports.