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

Brian T. Gold; Nathan F. Johnson; David K. Powell

doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2013.09.037

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

Brian T. Gold, Nathan F. Johnson, David K. Powell

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

122 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2841-2846
Number of pages	6
Journal	Neuropsychologia
Volume	51
Issue number	13
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2013.09.037
State	Published - Nov 2013

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award number R01AG033036 and the National Science Foundation under Award number BCS 0814302 . The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of these granting agencies. We thank Sara Cilles and Quenio Ferreira for their assistance in recruiting participants. In addition, we wish to thank our study volunteers for their participation in this research.

Keywords

Aging
Bilingualism
Brain reserve
Cognitive reserve
DTI

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Behavioral Neuroscience

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title = "Lifelong bilingualism contributes to cognitive reserve against white matter integrity declines in aging",

abstract = "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.",

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note = "Funding Information: This study was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award number R01AG033036 and the National Science Foundation under Award number BCS 0814302 . The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of these granting agencies. We thank Sara Cilles and Quenio Ferreira for their assistance in recruiting participants. In addition, we wish to thank our study volunteers for their participation in this research.",

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AU - Johnson, Nathan F.

AU - Powell, David K.

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N2 - 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.

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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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