Journal Article

DZNE-2023-00198

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Linking early-life bilingualism and cognitive advantage in older adulthood.

Ballarini, T. (First author)DZNE* ; Kuhn, E.DZNE* ; Röske, S.DZNE* ; Altenstein, S.DZNE* ; Bartels, C. ; Buchholz, F. ; Buerger, K.DZNE* ; Dechent, P. ; Dobisch, L.DZNE* ; Ewers, M.DZNE* ; Fliessbach, K.DZNE* ; Freiesleben, S. D.DZNE* ; Frommann, I.DZNE* ; Gabelin, T.Extern* ; Glanz, W.DZNE* ; Görß, D.Extern* ; Haynes, J. D. ; Incesoy, E. I.DZNE* ; Janowitz, D.Extern* ; Kilimann, I.DZNE* ; Kleineidam, L.DZNE* ; Kobeleva, X.DZNE* ; Laske, C.DZNE* ; Lohse, A.Extern* ; Maier, F. ; Munk, M. H.DZNE* ; Perneczky, R.DZNE* ; Peters, O.DZNE* ; Priller, J.DZNE* ; Rauchmann, B. S.Extern* ; Roy, N.DZNE* ; Scheffler, K. ; Schneider, A.DZNE* ; Schott, B. H.DZNE* ; Spottke, A.DZNE* ; Spruth, E. J.DZNE* ; Teipel, S.DZNE* ; Wiltfang, J.DZNE* ; Wolfsgruber, S.DZNE* ; Düzel, E.DZNE* ; Jessen, F.DZNE* ; Wagner, M. (Last author)DZNE* ; group, D. s. (Collaboration Author)

2023
Elsevier Science Amsterdam [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.12.005

Abstract: Previous studies have identified bilingualism as a protective factor against dementia. Here we aimed to test whether being bilingual at different life stages impacts cognition and brain structure in older adulthood. We included 746 participants from the DZNE-Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study (DELCODE). Assessment of bilingualism at 3 life stages (early: 13-30, middle: 30-65 and late: over 65 years old) was determined with the Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire. Individuals reporting bilingualism (i.e., daily use of L2) in the early life stage outperformed monolinguals on learning & memory, working-memory, executive functions and language. Bilingualism in middle life stage showed a significant advantage on learning & memory, while no effect of bilingualism in old life stage was identified. Brain gray matter volume was not associated with L2 use and did not differ between groups. However, stronger correlations between brain gray matter volume in selected brain regions and cognitive performance were found in bilingual participants in the early and middle life stages. Our results indicate that bilingualism in early life might provide a long-lasting protective effect on cognition and shape the brain to sustain cognitive performance in older adulthood.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Aged (MeSH) ; Multilingualism (MeSH) ; Cognition (MeSH) ; Executive Function (MeSH) ; Brain (MeSH) ; Dementia (MeSH) ; Aging ; Bilingualism ; Brain structure ; Neuropsychology ; Voxel-based-morphometry

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Neuropsychology (AG Wagner)
2. Interdisciplinary Dementia Research (AG Endres)
3. Vascular Cognitive Impairment & Post-Stroke Dementia (AG Dichgans)
4. Vascular Pathology (AG Dirnagl)
5. Clinical Neurophysiology and Memory (AG Düzel)
6. Molecular Neurobiology (AG Simons)
7. Patient Studies Bonn (Patient Studies Bonn)
8. Clinical Alzheimer’s Disease Research (AG Jessen)
9. Cooperation Unit for Applied Prevention Research (KAP) (KAP)
10. Clinical Dementia Research (Rostock /Greifswald) (AG Teipel)
11. Patient Studies (AG Klockgether)
12. Parkinson Genetics (AG Gasser)
13. Translational Neuropsychiatry (AG Priller)
14. Clinical Research Platform (CRP) (Clinical Research Platform (CRP))
15. Molecular biomarkers for predictive diagnostics of neurodegenerative diseases (AG Wiltfang)
16. Translational Dementia Research (Bonn) (AG Schneider)
17. Epigenetics and Systems Medicine in Neurodegenerative Diseases (AG Fischer)
18. Delcode (Delcode)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)
2. 352 - Disease Mechanisms (POF4-352) (POF4-352)

Experiment(s):

1. Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study

Appears in the scientific report 2023

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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