The world is ageing. In Europe alone, over 20 percent of citizens will be over the age of 65 by 2025. Healthy ageing research has therefore been put high on the agenda. People who speak more than one language are reported to build up cognitive reserve, even delaying the onset of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s (Alladi et al., 2013). That would make multilingualism a most powerful tool against geriatric diseases (Bak, 2016).

In light of the research available on the impact of language learning on geriatric diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, the University of Groningen Language Centre will initiate language courses specifically developed for people over the age of 60 in 2023. This project will be executed in collaboration with BALAB and the Municipality of Groningen.

The first course will start on 2 June.