Bilingualism and Cognitive Reserve: A Critical Overview and a Plea for Methodological Innovations

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Noelia CalvoAgustín Ibáñez

Abstract

The decline of cognitive skills throughout healthy or pathological aging can be slowed down by experiences which foster cognitive reserve (CR). Recently, some studies on Alzheimer's disease have suggested that CR may be enhanced by life-long bilingualism. However, the evidence is inconsistent and largely based on retrospective approaches featuring several methodological weaknesses. Some studies demonstrated at least 4 years of delay in dementia symptoms, while others did not find such an effect. Moreover, various methodological aspects vary from study to study. The present paper addresses contradictory findings, identifies possible lurking variables, and outlines methodological alternatives thereof. First, we characterize possible confounding factors that may have influenced extant results. Our focus is on the criteria to establish bilingualism, differences in sample design, the instruments used to examine cognitive skills, and the role of variables known to modulate life-long cognition. Second, we propose that these limitations could be largely circumvented through experimental approaches. Proficiency in the non-native language can be successfully assessed by combining subjective and objective measures; confounding variables w...Continue Reading

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Citations

Mar 5, 2016·Frontiers in Psychology·Noelia CalvoAdolfo M García
Jun 29, 2016·Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology·Andreas IhleMatthias Kliegel
Jan 13, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Mark Antoniou, Sarah M Wright
Jun 11, 2018·Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders·Yifan ZhengZhong Pei
Oct 20, 2018·Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS·Mónica RosselliRanjan Duara
Aug 8, 2018·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Andriani PapageorgiouRoberto Filippi
Mar 3, 2020·Applied Neuropsychology. Adult·Lisandra MendozaMiriam J Rodriguez
Jul 18, 2020·Applied Neuropsychology. Adult·Simge CelikBirgit Teichmann
Feb 6, 2020·International Psychogeriatrics·Marcia Radanovic
Nov 22, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Sara Incera
Sep 12, 2019·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Charlotte GreeneSandrine Thuret
Mar 11, 2017·Behavior Research Methods·John A E AndersonEllen Bialystok
Jun 17, 2020·Neuropsychologia·Marco CalabriaAlbert Costa
Nov 3, 2020·Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology·Sivaniya SubramaniapillaiGillian Einstein
Oct 27, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Roberto R HerediaLuis A Vega
Nov 3, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Aline FerreiraJulia Festman
Jan 5, 2021·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Jennifer A RiekerSoledad Ballesteros
Sep 7, 2021·Journal of Anatomy·Charles TaylorScott Border

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