Bilingualism research group

Speaker: Toms Voits (University of Reading)

Title: Bilingualism as a neuroprotective factor in ageing: Insights from healthy and clinical populations

Abstract: In the recent decades a significant amount of research has been dedicated to study of the neurocognitive effects of bilingualism. Although most of the work in this field has been focussed on healthy young adult populations, there has recently been an increased interest in examining bilingualism in the later years of life. This trend is intensified by the discovery that bilingualism may have clinical implications; bilingualism has been shown to considerably delay Alzheimer’s dementia symptom onset and age of formal clinical diagnosis. Episodic memory decline is one of the primary symptoms of dementia. This cognitive function has been linked to bilingualism-related enhancements across the lifespan. The hippocampus, a brain structure crucial for episodic memory function, is also known to be sensitive to bilingualism-induced adaptation, at least in younger populations. Two studies are presented investigating the impact bilingualism might have on neurocognition in clinical and healthy ageing. In particular, effects of bilingualism on episodic memory function and the hippocampal structure in healthy older adults and individuals with an MCI diagnosis are examined. Results reveal bilingualism, and especially active engagement in second language use, to offer neuroprotection of the hippocampus in the older age, although behavioural differences may not always be observed.