A cross-sectional and longitudinal study on the protective effect of bilingualism against dementia using brain atrophy and cognitive measures

Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy

Víctor Costumero¹  Albert Costa¹  Marco Calabria¹  Juan Ruiz de Miras²  Mireia Hernandez³  Joaquín Escudero⁴  Vicente Belloch⁵  Miguel Baquero⁶  Maria-Antònia Parcet⁷  Lidon Marin-Marin⁷  César Ávila⁷ 

[1] Center for Brain and Cognition, University Pompeu Fabra;Computer Science Department, University of Jaén;Department of Cognition, Development, and Educational Psychology Section of Cognitive Processes, University of Barcelona;Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Valencia;ERESA Medical Group;Neurology Unit, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe;Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Group, University Jaume I;

关键词: Bilingualism;    Cognitive reserve;    Alzheimer’s disease;    Mild cognitive impairment;    Brain atrophy;    Region-based morphometry;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13195-020-0581-1

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Evidence from previous studies suggests that bilingualism contributes to cognitive reserve because bilinguals manifest the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) up to 5 years later than monolinguals. Other cross-sectional studies demonstrate that bilinguals show greater amounts of brain atrophy and hypometabolism than monolinguals, despite sharing the same diagnosis and suffering from the same symptoms. However, these studies may be biased by possible pre-existing between-group differences. Methods In this study, we used global parenchymal measures of atrophy and cognitive tests to investigate the protective effect of bilingualism against dementia cross-sectionally and prospectively, using a sample of bilinguals and monolinguals in the same clinical stage and matched on sociodemographic variables. Results Our results suggest that the two groups did not differ in their cognitive status at baseline, but bilinguals had less parenchymal volume than monolinguals, especially in areas related to brain atrophy in dementia. In addition, a longitudinal prospective analysis revealed that monolinguals lost more parenchyma and had more cognitive decline than bilinguals in a mean follow-up period of 7 months. Conclusion These results provide the first prospective evidence that bilingualism may act as a neuroprotective factor against dementia and could be considered a factor in cognitive reserve.

【 授权许可】

Unknown