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2007-9-4 12:32:01 |
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The onset of dementia symptoms in those who use two languages comes four years later than in those who use one language only, according to Canadian researchers who reported the finding in the February 2007 issue of Neuropsychologia. Certain lifestyle factors such as physical activity, education and social engagement have been studied for their effects on brain power or cognitive reserve including enhanced neural plasticity, compensatory use of alternative brain regions, and enriched brain vasculature, all of which are believed to affect the onset of dementia symptoms, according to a press release by Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. In the study, researchers from the Rotman Research Institute at the Baycrest Research Centre for Aging and the Brain found that another lifestyle factor, bilingualism, may delay dementia symptoms. "Our study found that speaking two languages throughout one's life appears to be associated with a delay in the onset of symptoms of dementia by four years compared to those who speak one language," says Dr. Ellen Bialystok, Professor of Psychology at York University and Associate Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest. In earlier studies, Dr. Bialystok and colleagues found that bilingualism enhances attention and cognitive control in both children and older adults. The researchers examined the diagnostic records of 184 patients who visited Baycrest's Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic between 2002 and 2005 for cognitive problems. Among the patients, 91 were monolingual and 93 were bilingual. Symptoms of dementia were found at an average age of 71.4 years among those who were monolingual compared to 75.5 years among those who were bilingual, the researchers found. The difference was significant even after other factors like cultural differences, immigration, formal education, employment, and gender were considered. "There are no pharmacological interventions that are this dramatic," said Dr. Morris Freedman, who is Head of the Division of Neurology, and Director of the Memory Clinic at Baycrest, referring to the four-year delay in onset of symptoms for bilingual patients. "The data show a huge protective effect," added co-investigator Dr. Fergus Craik. But he cautioned that the finding is preliminary and more research was needed before arriving at any conclusions. |
