Bilingualism Delays Expression of Alzheimer's Clinical Syndrome.
Age of onset
Alzheimer’s disease
Bilingualism
Dementia
Language
Journal
Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders
ISSN: 1421-9824
Titre abrégé: Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 9705200
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2019
2019
Historique:
received:
10
12
2019
accepted:
10
01
2020
pubmed:
12
2
2020
medline:
1
8
2020
entrez:
12
2
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
To evaluate the effects of bilingualism on the emergence of Alzheimer's clinical syndrome. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Sections du résumé
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.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32045913
pii: 000505872
doi: 10.1159/000505872
pmc: PMC7195235
mid: NIHMS1564283
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
281-289Subventions
Organisme : NIA NIH HHS
ID : RF1 AG050967
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.
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