Lost for Words Lately? The Surprising Link Between Language and Longevity
- Editorial Team
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
If you’ve found yourself forgetting names, losing your train of thought, or struggling to find the right words in conversation, don’t just brush it off. These subtle signs of mental fatigue may be your brain’s way of asking for attention.
New research suggests that the way we use language—specifically, our verbal fluency—could be a powerful indicator not just of cognitive clarity, but of our overall vitality and even how long we live.
In a time when longevity is often reduced to supplements, sleep trackers, or biohacks, this study offers a refreshing perspective: language matters—and it may matter more than we think.
The Study: Words as a Mirror of Whole-Person Health
A 2025 study from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and the University of Geneva analyzed data from the renowned Berlin Aging Study, which followed over 500 people between the ages of 70 and 103 for up to 18 years.
Participants underwent a wide range of cognitive assessments—covering memory, processing speed, and vocabulary—but only one factor consistently predicted longevity: verbal fluency.
Verbal fluency refers to how quickly and accurately someone can access and express words. In this study, participants were asked to name as many animals as possible within 90 seconds—a standard test in neuropsychology.
The findings were striking: individuals who scored higher on this simple task lived up to nine years longer than those with lower scores. Other cognitive abilities—like general knowledge or episodic memory—did not show the same predictive value.
Why This Matters: Language, Longevity, and Cognitive Resilience
Verbal fluency is not just about vocabulary—it reflects the broader health of the brain. It draws on memory, attention, executive function, and emotional self-regulation.
According to study co-author Paolo Ghisletta, this measure likely reflects the integrity of multiple cognitive systems working in harmony.
What makes this especially relevant is that verbal fluency may not be a standalone trait, but rather a proxy for overall physiological resilience. As Ghisletta notes, “All of these domains are just declining together—whether it’s cognition, personality, emotions, or biological and medical decline.”
This aligns with a broader movement in integrative and functional medicine: the recognition that mental, emotional, and physical health are deeply interconnected. When the ability to communicate breaks down, it may be signaling stress across other systems.
How to Support Verbal Fluency and Cognitive Vitality
While the study did not prescribe specific actions to improve verbal fluency, neuroscientists, cognitive therapists, and longevity experts agree on a range of practices that can support this area of cognitive function—and, more broadly, promote long-term brain health.
Here are several expert-informed strategies that can be incorporated into a daily routine:
Practice Category Naming
A direct mirror of the study’s test. Set a timer for 90 seconds and name as many items as possible within a category—such as fruits, cities, or tools. This simple exercise activates multiple brain regions and strengthens neural pathways related to retrieval speed and linguistic recall.
Read Outside Your Comfort Zone
Research shows that reading diverse types of material—from literary fiction to science articles—improves cognitive flexibility and introduces new vocabulary, which strengthens the brain’s language networks.
Write Regularly
Journaling and expressive writing activate memory, language production, and emotional processing—all of which contribute to verbal fluency. It doesn’t have to be polished or lengthy. Even a few minutes a day of reflective writing can help organize thought patterns and reinforce neural coherence.
Engage in Structured Word Games
Crosswords, word associations, Scrabble, or even verbal storytelling games have been shown to enhance working memory and linguistic precision, particularly in midlife and older adults.
Limit Cognitive Multitasking
Studies in cognitive neuroscience suggest that chronic multitasking weakens focus, memory retention, and verbal fluency. Creating daily rituals of deep focus—such as reading without devices or having uninterrupted conversations—can help recalibrate the brain’s attention system.
Explore Bilingualism or Language Learning
Some research suggests that learning a second language, or maintaining fluency in more than one, may delay cognitive decline and enhance neural flexibility.
Don’t Wait for Burnout to Reboot
For high-performing individuals in their 40s and 50s—many of whom carry the invisible weight of leadership, decision fatigue, and emotional strain—the early signs of cognitive depletion often show up not as major decline, but as subtle shifts: losing your train of thought, forgetting familiar names, or feeling mentally scattered.
These are not just productivity issues. They are health and wellbeing issues.
This study reminds us that longevity is not only about medical markers—it’s about mental clarity, language, and presence. And that when those start to slip, it may be time not to push harder, but to pause, recalibrate, and restore.
Because how we think and speak is a reflection of how we live. And how we live determines how long and how well.
Like what you’ve read?
Get curious and SIGN UP for The Calmfidence Circle — a game-changing newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.
Comments