1
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Downer B, Milani S, Grasso S, Lucas FL, Mehta N. Dual-Language Use and Cognitive Function Among Mexican Americans Aged 65 and Older. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 99:1105-1115. [PMID: 38759004 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Background Better English proficiency and higher frequency of using English among non-native speakers are associated with lower dementia risk. Objective We investigated if Mexican American older adults who use English and Spanish to a more similar degree demonstrate better cognitive function than those who use one language more than the other. Methods We used data from waves one (1992/93) to eight (2012/13) of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly. At baseline, participants were asked what language they usually use across communicative contexts. We based dual language on participants' use of Spanish and English within and across contexts. We categorized participants as low (n = 1,145), medium (n = 717), and high (n = 702) dual-language users. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the association between dual-language use, baseline Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, and change in MMSE. Results Participants in the medium and high dual-language use categories scored 1.91 points and 3.03 points higher at wave one compared to the low dual-language use category. Adjusting for education reduced the association between dual-language use and baseline MMSE (medium B = 0.99 SE = 0.19 p < 0.01; high B = 1.41 SE = 0.21 p < 0.01). The association between dual-language use and decline in the MMSE was not statistically significant. Conclusions Greater dual-language use was associated with higher MMSE scores but not change in MMSE scores among Mexican Americans aged 65 and older. Future work should characterize bilingualism with greater nuance and use more rigorous cognitive measures to identify the components of the bilingual experience that may benefit the cognitive functioning of older adult bilinguals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Downer
- Department of Population Health and Health Disparities, School of Public and Population Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Sealy Center on Aging, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Sadaf Milani
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public and Population Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Sealy Center on Aging, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Stephanie Grasso
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Galveston, TX, USA
| | | | - Neil Mehta
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public and Population Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Sealy Center on Aging, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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2
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Pavelka L, Rawal R, Ghosh S, Pauly C, Pauly L, Hanff AM, Kolber PL, Jónsdóttir SR, Mcintyre D, Azaiz K, Thiry E, Vilasboas L, Soboleva E, Giraitis M, Tsurkalenko O, Sapienza S, Diederich N, Klucken J, Glaab E, Aguayo GA, Jubal ER, Perquin M, Vaillant M, May P, Gantenbein M, Satagopam VP, Krüger R. Luxembourg Parkinson's study -comprehensive baseline analysis of Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1330321. [PMID: 38174101 PMCID: PMC10763250 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1330321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Deep phenotyping of Parkinson's disease (PD) is essential to investigate this fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder. Since 2015, over 800 individuals with PD and atypical parkinsonism along with more than 800 control subjects have been recruited in the frame of the observational, monocentric, nation-wide, longitudinal-prospective Luxembourg Parkinson's study. Objective To profile the baseline dataset and to explore risk factors, comorbidities and clinical profiles associated with PD, atypical parkinsonism and controls. Methods Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of all 1,648 participants divided in disease and control groups were investigated. Then, a cross-sectional group comparison was performed between the three largest groups: PD, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and controls. Subsequently, multiple linear and logistic regression models were fitted adjusting for confounders. Results The mean (SD) age at onset (AAO) of PD was 62.3 (11.8) years with 15% early onset (AAO < 50 years), mean disease duration 4.90 (5.16) years, male sex 66.5% and mean MDS-UPDRS III 35.2 (16.3). For PSP, the respective values were: 67.6 (8.2) years, all PSP with AAO > 50 years, 2.80 (2.62) years, 62.7% and 53.3 (19.5). The highest frequency of hyposmia was detected in PD followed by PSP and controls (72.9%; 53.2%; 14.7%), challenging the use of hyposmia as discriminating feature in PD vs. PSP. Alcohol abstinence was significantly higher in PD than controls (17.6 vs. 12.9%, p = 0.003). Conclusion Luxembourg Parkinson's study constitutes a valuable resource to strengthen the understanding of complex traits in the aforementioned neurodegenerative disorders. It corroborated several previously observed clinical profiles, and provided insight on frequency of hyposmia in PSP and dietary habits, such as alcohol abstinence in PD.Clinical trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05266872.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Pavelka
- Transversal Translational Medicine, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Parkinson Research Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Translational Neuroscience, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Rajesh Rawal
- Bioinformatics Core, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Soumyabrata Ghosh
- Bioinformatics Core, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Claire Pauly
- Transversal Translational Medicine, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Parkinson Research Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Translational Neuroscience, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Laure Pauly
- Transversal Translational Medicine, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Parkinson Research Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Translational Neuroscience, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Anne-Marie Hanff
- Transversal Translational Medicine, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Department of Epidemiology, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Pierre Luc Kolber
- Parkinson Research Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Department of Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Sonja R. Jónsdóttir
- Transversal Translational Medicine, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Parkinson Research Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Translational Neuroscience, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Deborah Mcintyre
- Transversal Translational Medicine, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Parkinson Research Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Kheira Azaiz
- Parkinson Research Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Translational Neuroscience, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Elodie Thiry
- Parkinson Research Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Translational Neuroscience, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Liliana Vilasboas
- Parkinson Research Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Translational Neuroscience, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Ekaterina Soboleva
- Parkinson Research Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Translational Neuroscience, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Marijus Giraitis
- Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Olena Tsurkalenko
- Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Stefano Sapienza
- Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Nico Diederich
- Department of Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Jochen Klucken
- Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Enrico Glaab
- Biomedical Data Science Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Gloria A. Aguayo
- Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Eduardo Rosales Jubal
- Translational Medicine Operations Hub, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Magali Perquin
- Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Michel Vaillant
- Translational Medicine Operations Hub, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Patrick May
- Bioinformatics Core, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Manon Gantenbein
- Translational Medicine Operations Hub, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Venkata P. Satagopam
- Bioinformatics Core, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Rejko Krüger
- Transversal Translational Medicine, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Parkinson Research Clinic, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Strassen, Luxembourg
- Translational Neuroscience, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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Achaa-Amankwaa P, Kushnereva E, Miksch H, Stumme J, Heim S, Ebersbach M. Multilingualism is associated with small task-specific advantages in cognitive performance of older adults. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16912. [PMID: 37805638 PMCID: PMC10560281 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43961-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The protective effects of multiple language knowledge on the maintenance of cognitive functions in older adults have been discussed controversially, among others, because of methodological inconsistencies between studies. In a sample of N = 528 German monolinguals and multilinguals (speaking two or more languages) older than 60 years, this study examined (1) whether speaking multiple languages is positively related to performance on tasks of interference suppression, working memory, concept shifting, and phonemic and semantic fluency, and (2) whether language proficiency and age of second language acquisition (AoA) are associated with cognitive performance of multilinguals. Controlling for education and daily activity, we found small cognitive benefits of speaking multiple languages on interference suppression, working memory, and phonemic fluency, but not on concept shifting and semantic fluency. Furthermore, no substantive correlations were found between language proficiency or AoA and cognitive performance. In conclusion, multilingualism appears to have small incremental effects on cognitive performance beyond education and daily activity in older age that are task-specific and widely independent of proficiency and AoA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Achaa-Amankwaa
- Institute of Psychology, University of Kassel, Holländische Strasse 36-38, 34127, Kassel, Germany.
| | - Ekaterina Kushnereva
- Institute of Psychology, University of Kassel, Holländische Strasse 36-38, 34127, Kassel, Germany
| | - Hanna Miksch
- Institute of Psychology, University of Kassel, Holländische Strasse 36-38, 34127, Kassel, Germany
| | - Johanna Stumme
- Institute of Anatomy I, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Stefan Heim
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mirjam Ebersbach
- Institute of Psychology, University of Kassel, Holländische Strasse 36-38, 34127, Kassel, Germany
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4
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Mendez MF. Can Speaking More Than One Language Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease? J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 95:363-377. [PMID: 37545240 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurocognitive disorder that is epidemic in the elderly population. Currently, there are limited pharmacological interventions, and this has heightened the urgency to identify potential preventable or modifiable risk factors that promote resilience to the neuropathological effects of AD. The regular use of two or more languages is one such factor that may increases cognitive reserve through the long-standing executive control involved in managing multiple languages in the brain. There is also evidence that bilingualism is associated with increased brain reserve or maintenance, particularly in frontal-executive structures and networks. This review examines the current, sometimes conflicting literature on bi/multilingualism and AD. These studies have confounding variations in the assessment of age of second language onset, language proficiency, language usage, and whether determining incidence of AD or age of symptom onset. Despite these limitations, most publications support the presence of increased frontal-executive reserve that compensates for the development of AD neuropathology and, thereby, delays the emergence of clinical symptoms of dementia by about 4-5 years. Although regularly speaking more than one language does not protect against AD neuropathology, the delay in its clinical expression has a potentially significant impact on the lifelong morbidity from this age-related disease. Learning other languages may be an important modifiable factor for delaying the clinical expression of AD in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario F Mendez
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, and Neurology Service, Neurobehavior Unit, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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5
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[Linguistic portrait of a Russian-German speaking woman with dementia : Longitudinal observations from a German language nursing home]. Z Gerontol Geriatr 2022; 55:276-280. [PMID: 35394190 DOI: 10.1007/s00391-022-02065-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The advantages of an individual use of the linguistic resources of multilingual persons in need of care are obvious, but quite often an implementation is hardly possible. This leads to a reduction of the linguistic abilities of those concerned. OBJECTIVE This case study shows the differences in the abilities of a Russian-German bilingual woman suffering from dementia in expressing herself in two languages and traces the longitudinal changes. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data material from 4 years of observation (including conversation recordings, linguistic tests and interviews with nursing personnel) was used to create the linguistic portrait. RESULTS The expression abilities and changes in the languages were different. In German, the receptive abilities at word level and sentence level and productive abilities at word level remained unchanged over the entire period. In Russian, the situation was less stable; at the beginning, she was an interested interlocutor who could express herself fluently at all levels. Over time, her syntactic complexity and willingness to interact decreased; nevertheless, better and productive Russian skills remained. CONCLUSION The asymmetrical distribution of the two languages entails the danger of a one-sided assessment of the general abilities of the person concerned. This underlines the need for a differentiated view of the languages.
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Dixon E, Anderson J, Lazar A. Understanding How Sensory Changes Experienced by Individuals with a Range of Age-Related Cognitive Changes can Effect Technology Use. ACM TRANSACTIONS ON ACCESSIBLE COMPUTING 2022; 15. [DOI: 10.1145/3511906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Clinical researchers have identified sensory changes people with age-related cognitive changes, such as dementia and mild cognitive impairment, experience which are different from typical age-related sensory changes. Technology designers and researchers do not yet have an understanding of how these unique sensory changes affect technology use. This work begins to bridge the gap between the clinical knowledge of sensory changes and technology research and design through interviews with people with mild to moderate dementia, mild cognitive impairment, subjective cognitive decline, and healthcare professionals. This extended version of our ASSETS conference paper includes people with a range of age-related cognitive changes describing changes in vision, hearing, speech, dexterity, proprioception, and smell. We discuss each of these sensory changes and ways to leverage optimal modes of sensory interaction for accessible technology use with existing and emerging technologies. Finally, we discuss how accessible sensory stimulation may change across the spectrum of age-related cognitive changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Dixon
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Amanda Lazar
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
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7
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Benussi A, Alberici A, Samra K, Russell LL, Greaves CV, Bocchetta M, Ducharme S, Finger E, Fumagalli G, Galimberti D, Jiskoot LC, Le Ber I, Masellis M, Nacmias B, Rowe JB, Sanchez-Valle R, Seelaar H, Synofzik M, Rohrer JD, Borroni B. Conceptual framework for the definition of preclinical and prodromal frontotemporal dementia. Alzheimers Dement 2021; 18:1408-1423. [PMID: 34874596 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The presymptomatic stages of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are still poorly defined and encompass a long accrual of progressive biological (preclinical) and then clinical (prodromal) changes, antedating the onset of dementia. The heterogeneity of clinical presentations and the different neuropathological phenotypes have prevented a prior clear description of either preclinical or prodromal FTD. Recent advances in therapeutic approaches, at least in monogenic disease, demand a proper definition of these predementia stages. It has become clear that a consensus lexicon is needed to comprehensively describe the stages that anticipate dementia. The goal of the present work is to review existing literature on the preclinical and prodromal phases of FTD, providing recommendations to address the unmet questions, therefore laying out a strategy for operationalizing and better characterizing these presymptomatic disease stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Alberici
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Kiran Samra
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Lucy L Russell
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Caroline V Greaves
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Martina Bocchetta
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Simon Ducharme
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Mental Health University Institute and Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Giorgio Fumagalli
- Fondazione Ca' Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Galimberti
- Fondazione Ca' Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Lize C Jiskoot
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Isabelle Le Ber
- Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau - ICM, Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR, Paris, France.,Centre de référence des démences rares ou précoces, IM2A, Département de Neurologie, AP-HP - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,Département de Neurologie, AP-HP - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND), Paris, France
| | - Mario Masellis
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benedetta Nacmias
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, and IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| | - James B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Raquel Sanchez-Valle
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacións Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Harro Seelaar
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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8
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Alam RB, Singleton CR, Aguiñaga S, Chodzko-Zajko W, Jahan NA, Oke A, Schwingel A. Is Acculturation Associated with the Cognitive Performance of Older Hispanics? J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 85:535-544. [PMID: 34842186 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hispanics in the United Statues are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Little is known about the impact of acculturation on cognitive performance. OBJECTIVE This study examined the association between acculturation and cognitive performance among older Hispanics. METHODS We analyzed cross-sectional data of 616 Hispanic participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 [average age = 67.15 years, %Female = 51.46, %less than high-school graduate = 52.60]. Cognitive performance was measured by two neuropsychological tests: Animal Fluency Test (AFT) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). We used two single-item proxy measures to quantify acculturation: nativity status (non-US-born residing < 15 years in the US (low acculturation), non-US-born residing ≥15 years in the US, and US-born (high acculturation)); and language acculturation (only/mostly Spanish (low acculturation), Spanish and English, only/mostly English (high acculturation)). We used adjusted linear regression to evaluate associations between acculturation and cognitive performance. RESULTS Results indicated poorer cognitive performance among the low-acculturated groups for both nativity and linguistic measures. Participants who were non-US-born living ≥15 years (p = 0.02) and speaking only/mostly Spanish or Spanish and English (p = 0.01 and 0.006 respectively) had significantly lower AFT scores compared to US-born and only/mostly English-speaking groups. Participants who were non-US-born living < 15 years (p < 0.0001) or non-US-born living ≥15 years (p < 0.0001) and speaking only/mostly Spanish (p = 0.0008) scored lower on the DSST than the US-born and only/mostly English-speaking participants. CONCLUSION In summary, low acculturation is associated with poorer cognitive performance among older Hispanics. Acculturation might be an important attribute to help understand cognitive decline and dementias among Hispanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rifat B Alam
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Chelsea R Singleton
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Susan Aguiñaga
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Nilufer A Jahan
- Department of Organic and Geriatric Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Adeyosola Oke
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Andiara Schwingel
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
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9
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Salig LK, Valdés Kroff JR, Slevc LR, Novick JM. Moving From Bilingual Traits to States: Understanding Cognition and Language Processing Through Moment-to-Moment Variation. NEUROBIOLOGY OF LANGUAGE (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2021; 2:487-512. [PMID: 37214629 PMCID: PMC10158593 DOI: 10.1162/nol_a_00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The study of how bilingualism is linked to cognitive processing, including executive functioning, has historically focused on comparing bilinguals to monolinguals across a range of tasks. These group comparisons presume to capture relatively stable cognitive traits and have revealed important insights about the architecture of the language processing system that could not have been gleaned from studying monolinguals alone. However, there are drawbacks to using a group-comparison, or Traits, approach. In this theoretical review, we outline some limitations of treating executive functions as stable traits and of treating bilinguals as a uniform group when compared to monolinguals. To build on what we have learned from group comparisons, we advocate for an emerging complementary approach to the question of cognition and bilingualism. Using an approach that compares bilinguals to themselves under different linguistic or cognitive contexts allows researchers to ask questions about how language and cognitive processes interact based on dynamically fluctuating cognitive and neural states. A States approach, which has already been used by bilingualism researchers, allows for cause-and-effect hypotheses and shifts our focus from questions of group differences to questions of how varied linguistic environments influence cognitive operations in the moment and how fluctuations in cognitive engagement impact language processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren K. Salig
- Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
| | - Jorge R. Valdés Kroff
- Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
| | - L. Robert Slevc
- Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
| | - Jared M. Novick
- Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
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Liu H, Wu L. Lifelong Bilingualism Functions as an Alternative Intervention for Cognitive Reserve Against Alzheimer's Disease. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:696015. [PMID: 34366926 PMCID: PMC8339371 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.696015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bilingualism has been reported to significantly delay the onset of dementia and plays an important role in the management of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a condition inducing impairment in the brain network and cognitive decline. Cognitive reserve is associated with the adaptive maintenance of neural functions by protecting against neuropathology. Bilingualism acts as a beneficial environmental factor contributing to cognitive reserve, although some potential confounding variables still need further elucidation. In this article, the relationship between bilingualism and cognitive reserve is discussed, interpreting the advantage of bilingualism in protecting against cognitive decline. In addition, the possible brain and biochemical mechanisms, supporting the advantageous effects of bilingualism in delaying the onset of dementia, involved in bilingualism are reviewed. Effectively, bilingualism can be considered as a pharmacological intervention with no side effects. However, the investigation of the pharmacological parameters of bilingualism is still at an early stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqing Liu
- Department of Foreign Languages, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Longhuo Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
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11
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Pulido MF. Native language inhibition predicts more successful second language learning: Evidence of two ERP pathways during learning. Neuropsychologia 2020; 152:107732. [PMID: 33347916 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
How some individuals succeed in learning a second language as adults is still an unsolved question in cognitive neuroscience. At the brain level, adults' electrophysiological responses to input in a second language may differ after completing different types of training. However, there is limited understanding of what neural pathways are activated as learning unfolds, and which patterns of activation lead to successful learning. Using brain event-related potentials, this study explored whether individual brain responses to practice difficulty during second language learning predict learning outcomes. English-speaking learners of Spanish practiced completing newly learned phrases in their second language. For some learners, all the choices presented during practice were "easy" because non-target choices were unrelated distractors. In the more "difficult" practice mode, however, learners had to avoid choosing a competing word that would be acceptable based on their native language, but not in the second language being learned. Performance during practice was similar in both groups of learners. Critically, divergence in event-related potentials indicated alternative strategies to practice, based on the level of difficulty. At the group level, learners completing the easier practice revealed increased monitoring when making responses; in the difficult condition, learners showed inhibition of their native language (i.e., an N400 for phrases congruent with the native language) to avoid interference during word selection. Individual brain responses indexing the degree of native language inhibition predicted learning rates in tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel F Pulido
- Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 442 Burrowes Building, 16802, USA.
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Raji CA, Meysami S, Merrill DA, Porter VR, Mendez MF. Brain Structure in Bilingual Compared to Monolingual Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease: Proof of Concept. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 76:275-280. [PMID: 32508324 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bilingualism is increasingly recognized as protective in persons at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE Compare MRI measured brain volumes in matched bilinguals versus monolinguals with AD. METHODS This IRB approved study analyzed T1 volumetric brain MRIs of patients with criteria-supported Probable AD. We identified 17 sequential bilinguals (any native language) with Probable AD, matched to 28 (62%) monolinguals on age and MMSE. Brain volumes were quantified with Neuroreader. Regional volumes as fraction of total intracranial volume (TIV) were compared between both groups, and Cohen's D effect sizes were calculated for statistically significant structures. Partial correlations between bilingualism and brain volumes adjusted for age, gender, and TIV. RESULTS Bilinguals had higher brain volumes in 37 structures. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was observed in brainstem (t = 2.33, p = 0.02, Cohen's D = 0.71) and ventral diencephalon (t = 3.01, p = 0.004, Cohen's D = 0.91). Partial correlations showed statistical significance between bilingualism and larger volumes in brainstem (rp = 0 . 37, p = 0.01), thalamus (rp = 0.31, p = 0.04), ventral diencephalon (rp = 0.50, p = 0.001), and pallidum (rp = 0.38, p = 0.01). Bilingualism positively correlated with hippocampal volume, though not statistically significant (rp = 0.17, p = 0.26). No brain volumes were larger in monolinguals. CONCLUSION Bilinguals demonstrated larger thalamic, ventral diencephalon, and brainstem volumes compared to matched monolinguals with AD. This may represent a neural substrate for increased cognitive reserve in bilingualism. Future studies should extrapolate this finding into cognitively normal persons at risk for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrus A Raji
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Somayeh Meysami
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David A Merrill
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,The John Wayne Cancer Institute and Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Providence and St. Johns Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Verna R Porter
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,The John Wayne Cancer Institute and Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Providence and St. Johns Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Mario F Mendez
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,V.A. Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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13
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Paulavicius AM, Mizzaci CC, Tavares DRB, Rocha AP, Civile VT, Schultz RR, Pinto ACPN, Trevisani VFM. Bilingualism for delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Geriatr Med 2020; 11:651-658. [PMID: 32367493 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-020-00326-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of bilingualism compared to monolingualism on the clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease. METHODS We searched the databases: MEDLINE, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase and LILACS, and searched by hand and in gray literature for studies published before September 2019. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Two reviewers independently searched for studies, extracted data, and performed the quality assessment. RESULTS Eight studies were included in this review. Data from meta-analyses suggest that bilingual individuals with Alzheimer's disease exhibit symptoms (694 participants; mean difference (MD) (4.05 years; 95% CI: 1.87-6.22 and are diagnosed later (1012 participants; MD 2.0 years; 95% CI: 0.08-3.92) than monolingual participants. CONCLUSION Bilingualism may delay the manifestation of symptoms and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Further studies with more rigorous methodology are needed to improve the precision of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M Paulavicius
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Brazilian Cochrane Centre, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 865, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04024-002, Brazil
| | - Carolina C Mizzaci
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Brazilian Cochrane Centre, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 865, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04024-002, Brazil
- Dante Pazzanese Institute of Cardiology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniela R B Tavares
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Brazilian Cochrane Centre, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 865, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04024-002, Brazil
- Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Aline P Rocha
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Brazilian Cochrane Centre, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 865, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04024-002, Brazil
| | - Vinicius T Civile
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Brazilian Cochrane Centre, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 865, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04024-002, Brazil
- Paulista University (UNIP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo R Schultz
- Department of Neurology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Pereira Nunes Pinto
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Brazilian Cochrane Centre, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros 865, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04024-002, Brazil.
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapa (UNIFAP), Macapá, AP, Brazil.
| | - Virginia F M Trevisani
- Brazilian Society of Rheumatology, Discipline of Rheumatology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Santo Amaro University (UNISA), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Loughrey DG, Pakhomov SVS, Lawlor BA. Altered verbal fluency processes in older adults with age-related hearing loss. Exp Gerontol 2019; 130:110794. [PMID: 31790801 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.110794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have linked age-related hearing loss (ARHL) with an increased risk of neurocognitive decline. Difficulties in speech perception with subsequent changes in brain morphometry, including regions important for lexical-semantic memory, are thought to be a possible mechanism for this relationship. This study investigated differences in automatic and executive lexical-semantic processes on verbal fluency tasks in individuals with acquired hearing loss. The primary outcomes were indices of automatic (clustering/word retrieval at start of task) and executive (switching/word retrieval after start of the task) processes from semantic and phonemic fluency tasks. To extract indices of clustering and switching, we used both manual and computerised methods. There were no differences between groups on indices of executive fluency processes or on any indices from the semantic fluency task. The hearing loss group demonstrated weaker automatic processes on the phonemic fluency task. Further research into differences in lexical-semantic processes with ARHL is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Loughrey
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, USA; Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin.
| | | | - Brian A Lawlor
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, USA; Mercer's Institute for Successful Ageing, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Mendez MF, Chavez D, Akhlaghipour G. Bilingualism Delays Expression of Alzheimer's Clinical Syndrome. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2019; 48:281-289. [PMID: 32045913 PMCID: PMC7195235 DOI: 10.1159/000505872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of bilingualism on the emergence of Alzheimer's clinical syndrome. BACKGROUND Studies have proposed an increase in cognitive and neural reserve from the management and control of two languages, with a consequent delayed expression of dementia. METHODS In a clinic with a large immigrant population, we identified 253 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) with intermediate or high evidence of AD pathophysiological process. These patients were reviewed for demographic variables, native language (L1) other than English, ages of onset and presentation, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), digit spans, word fluencies, naming, and memory. RESULTS Among these patients, 74 (29.2%) were bilinguals with various L1s (Farsi, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Arabic, others). When compared to the 179 monolingual AD patients, those who were bilingual had significant delays in ages of onset and presentation of approximately 4 years (p = 0.003). These delays persisted despite bilinguals having worse MMSE scores on presentation. There were no significant group differences on other variables except for worse naming in English among bilinguals versus monolinguals. Caregiver/informants reported that 66 (89.2%) of the 74 bilingual AD patients had gradually regressed to the predominant use of their L1. CONCLUSIONS In line with published reports worldwide, we found that bilingualism delays the expression of Alzheimer's clinical syndrome. We also found frequent reversion to the first learned language. These findings suggest that, among bilinguals, the availability of an L1 "back-up" either facilitates compensation or masks emergence of the early symptoms of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario F. Mendez
- V.A. Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Departments of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, CA, USA,Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, and Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Diana Chavez
- Departments of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Golnoush Akhlaghipour
- Departments of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, CA, USA
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