Caleb M Yeung1, Philip D St John, Verena Menec, Suzanne L Tyas. 1. *University of Manitoba †Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine ‡Centre on Aging §Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, MB ∥School of Public Health and Health Systems and Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether bilingualism is associated with dementia in cross-sectional or prospective analyses of older adults. METHODS: In 1991, 1616 community-living older adults were assessed and were followed 5 years later. Measures included age, sex, education, subjective memory loss (SML), and the modified Mini-mental State Examination (3MS). Dementia was determined by clinical examination in those who scored below the cut point on the 3MS. Language status was categorized based upon self-report into 3 groups: English as a first language (monolingual English, bilingual English) and English as a Second Language (ESL). RESULTS: The ESL category had lower education, lower 3MS scores, more SML, and were more likely to be diagnosed with cognitive impairment, no dementia at both time 1 and time 2 compared with those speaking English as a first language. There was no association between being bilingual (ESL and bilingual English vs. monolingual) and having dementia at time 1 in bivariate or multivariate analyses. In those who were cognitively intact at time 1, there was no association between being bilingual and having dementia at time 2 in bivariate or multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find any association between speaking >1 language and dementia.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether bilingualism is associated with dementia in cross-sectional or prospective analyses of older adults. METHODS: In 1991, 1616 community-living older adults were assessed and were followed 5 years later. Measures included age, sex, education, subjective memory loss (SML), and the modified Mini-mental State Examination (3MS). Dementia was determined by clinical examination in those who scored below the cut point on the 3MS. Language status was categorized based upon self-report into 3 groups: English as a first language (monolingual English, bilingual English) and English as a Second Language (ESL). RESULTS: The ESL category had lower education, lower 3MS scores, more SML, and were more likely to be diagnosed with cognitive impairment, no dementia at both time 1 and time 2 compared with those speaking English as a first language. There was no association between being bilingual (ESL and bilingual English vs. monolingual) and having dementia at time 1 in bivariate or multivariate analyses. In those who were cognitively intact at time 1, there was no association between being bilingual and having dementia at time 2 in bivariate or multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find any association between speaking >1 language and dementia.
Authors: Daniel Eriksson Sörman; Maria Josefsson; John E Marsh; Patrik Hansson; Jessica K Ljungberg Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-12-27 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Simon R Cox; Thomas H Bak; Michael Allerhand; Paul Redmond; John M Starr; Ian J Deary; Sarah E MacPherson Journal: Neuropsychologia Date: 2016-08-29 Impact factor: 3.139