Lifelong bilingualism and mechanisms of neuroprotection in Alzheimer dementia.
Authors
Malpetti, Maura
Farsad, Mohsen
Lubian, Francesca
Magnani, Giuseppe
Frasca Polara, Giulia
Epiney, Jean-Benoit
Assal, Frédéric
Garibotto, Valentina
Perani, Daniela
Publication Date
2022-02-01Journal Title
Hum Brain Mapp
ISSN
1065-9471
Publisher
Wiley
Language
en
Type
Article
This Version
AO
VoR
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Sala, A., Malpetti, M., Farsad, M., Lubian, F., Magnani, G., Frasca Polara, G., Epiney, J., et al. (2022). Lifelong bilingualism and mechanisms of neuroprotection in Alzheimer dementia.. Hum Brain Mapp https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.25605
Abstract
Lifelong bilingualism is associated with delayed dementia onset, suggesting a protective effect on the brain. Here, we aim to study the effects of lifelong bilingualism as a dichotomous and continuous phenomenon, on brain metabolism and connectivity in individuals with Alzheimer's dementia. Ninety-eight patients with Alzheimer's dementia (56 monolinguals; 42 bilinguals) from three centers entered the study. All underwent an [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) imaging session. A language background questionnaire measured the level of language use for conversation and reading. Severity of brain hypometabolism and strength of connectivity of the major neurocognitive networks was compared across monolingual and bilingual individuals, and tested against the frequency of second language life-long usage. Age, years of education, and MMSE score were included in all above mentioned analyses as nuisance covariates. Cerebral hypometabolism was more severe in bilingual compared to monolingual patients; severity of hypometabolism positively correlated with the degree of second language use. The metabolic connectivity analyses showed increased connectivity in the executive, language, and anterior default mode networks in bilingual compared to monolingual patients. The change in neuronal connectivity was stronger in subjects with higher second language use. All effects were most pronounced in the left cerebral hemisphere. The neuroprotective effects of lifelong bilingualism act both against neurodegenerative processes and through the modulation of brain networks connectivity. These findings highlight the relevance of lifelong bilingualism in brain reserve and compensation, supporting bilingual education and social interventions aimed at usage, and maintenance of two or more languages, including dialects, especially crucial in the elderly people.
Keywords
RESEARCH ARTICLE, RESEARCH ARTICLES, Alzheimer disease, default mode network, fluorodeoxyglucose F18, multilingualism, positron‐emission tomography
Sponsorship
Italian Ministry of Health (Ricerca Finalizzata Progetto Reti Nazionale AD NET‐2011‐02346784)
Swiss National Science Foundation (320030_169876, 320030_185028)
Velux foundation (1123)
Identifiers
hbm25605
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.25605
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/330222
Rights
Licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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