Research Hit: Language Skills Predict Longevity
New research shows a correlation between verbal fluency and a long life
What, surely other factors are more important than language skills for living longer?!
Yes, I’ve reported on multiple other factors that impact longevity with the usual suspects, and some not so usual, topping the list. In fact this could also have been formulated that “intelligence boosts longevity”.
Really?! Please explain…
Well, there is some research that links intelligence, IQ levels, to longevity. There could be multiple reasons for this. But here Ghisletta et al., of the University of Geneva here in Switzerland, dug deeper into this with data from what is known as the Berlin Aging Study. This study started collecting data in 1989 after the Berlin wall fell and it tracked 516 people aged 70-105 at the time until their eventual deaths up to 18 years later.
The study collected a mass of data ranging from economic well-being, dental health, stress levels, and various cognitive functions. They then looked at 9 different cognitive functions that had been measured to see if any better correlated to aging than others.
And what did they find?
After modelling these cognitive functions, their decrease over time, and risk of dying they came up with only verbal fluency being significantly linked to longevity.
Surely other cognitive functions would be also?
Intuitively we could think that. As we probably all know cognition decreases with time and a high cognitive ability has many benefits but also protects against the symptoms of many brain degenerative diseases. This is known as cognitive reserve.
But they used refined models and verbal fluency came out alone. But remember that language is complex brain process including short and long-term memory, cognitive efficiency and speed not to mention flexibility and adaptability. That’s probably why it is correlated better to aging measures.
So work on your language skills to live a long life
Well, we are not sure this is causal - but we do know, for example, that being bilingual is very beneficial for cognitive abilities. And working on verbal skills will certainly help build your cognitive reserve.
As already mentioned cognitive reserve is known to mitigate many effects of aging so yes, training and working on language skills is certainly beneficial. It might just make you age better rather than longer. That in itself is certainly worth it!
Also based on this research testing verbal fluency is a good all round cognitive and well-being test.
So keep writing, Andy, even in old age
I will, I will.
Reference
Paolo Ghisletta, Stephen Aichele, Denis Gerstorf, Angela Carollo, Ulman Lindenberger.
Verbal Fluency Selectively Predicts Survival in Old and Very Old Age.
Psychological Science, 2025
DOI: 10.1177/09567976241311923