Lifelong bilingualism contributes to cognitive reserve against white matter integrity declines in aging

NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA

卷:51

Article

Gold, Brian T.^1,2,3  Johnson, Nathan F.¹  Powell, David K.^2,4 

[1] Univ Kentucky, Dept Anat & Neurobiol, Lexington, KY 40536 USA

[2] Univ Kentucky, Magnet Resonance Imaging & Spect Ctr, Lexington, KY 40536 USA

[3] Univ Kentucky, Sanders Brown Ctr Aging, Lexington, KY 40536 USA

[4] Univ Kentucky, Dept Biomed Engn, Lexington, KY 40536 USA

关键词: Cognitive reserve;    Brain reserve;    Bilingualism;    DTI;    Aging;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2013.09.037

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Recent evidence suggests that lifelong bilingualism may contribute to cognitive reserve (CR) in normal aging. However, there is currently no neuroimaging evidence to suggest that lifelong bilinguals can retain normal cognitive functioning in the face of age-related neurodegeneration. Here we explored this issue by comparing white matter (WM) integrity and gray matter (GM) volumetric patterns of older adult lifelong bilinguals (N=20) and monolinguals (N=20). The groups were matched on a range of relevant cognitive test scores and on the established CR variables of education, socioeconomic status and intelligence. Participants underwent high-resolution structural imaging for assessment of GM volume and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for assessment of WM integrity. Results indicated significantly lower microstructural integrity in the bilingual group in several WM tracts. In particular, compared to their monolingual peers, the bilingual group showed lower fractional anisotropy and/or higher radial diffusivity in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus/inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus bilaterally, the fornix, and multiple portions of the corpus callosum. There were no group differences in GM volume. Our results suggest that lifelong bilingualism contributes to CR against WM integrity declines in aging. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free