Bilingualism and language resilience in Hispanic people with primary progressive aphasia
Bilingual Factors Associated with Cognitive Reserve and Linguistic Resilience in Hispanics with Primary Progressive Aphasia
Researchers compare different bilingual experiences to see how they relate to language decline and thinking skills in Hispanic adults with primary progressive aphasia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11491123 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked about your language history (which language you learned first, how well you speak each language, how often you use them, and when you learned them) and complete standard language and thinking tests. The team will examine different parts of language—speaking, understanding, naming, and grammar—to map how each language changes over time. They will compare people with different bilingual backgrounds to find patterns linked to stronger thinking skills or longer preservation of language. The findings aim to explain why some bilingual people keep language abilities longer and to help shape better communication and care plans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Hispanic adults diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia who use two languages (bilingual) and can provide language history and complete language and cognitive testing are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are monolingual, do not have PPA, or cannot complete the required language and cognitive assessments are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify which bilingual experiences help protect against language decline and guide personalized communication and care for Hispanic people with PPA.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies on bilingualism and dementia have produced mixed results, with some showing delayed symptoms and others varying by how bilingualism was measured, so this work seeks to clarify those differences.
Where this research is happening
Austin, United States
- University of Texas at Austin — Austin, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grasso, Stephanie M — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Grasso, Stephanie M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.