Simultaneous interpreting, brain aging, and cognition

Abstract

Aging is associated with a high prevalence of neural and cognitive changes, which may impair life quality while placing a significant burden on the healthcare system and the economy. Nevertheless, diverse daily activities as well as deliberate practice in several domains have been proposed to benefit brain plasticity and cognition as well as to have the potential to counteract age-related decline through neuroprotective and/or compensatory mechanisms. In this review article, we will provide a summary of the gray matter alterations that have commonly been documented in simultaneous interpreters over the past twenty years. Furthermore, we will review the main literature that examined associations between simultaneous interpreting training and cognitive functions for assessing possible practice-related cognitive benefits in older age. We will also outline future directions for research in this area and highlight interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of aging on neurocognition.