Bilingualism and language resilience in Hispanic people with primary progressive aphasia
Official title: Bilingual Factors Associated with Cognitive Reserve and Linguistic Resilience in Hispanics with Primary Progressive Aphasia
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11491123 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $210,870 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG080470-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11491123 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
People who are monolingual, do not have PPA, or cannot complete the required language and cognitive assessments are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Bilingualism and language resilience in Hispanic adults with primary progressive aphasia
This project will learn how different bilingual experiences affect thinking and language skills in Hispanic adults with primary progressive aphasia.
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Exploring how bilingualism affects cognitive health in Hispanics with language disorders
This study is looking at how being bilingual might help Hispanic individuals with primary progressive aphasia, a type of dementia that affects language, by exploring how their language skills and experiences can influence their brain's ability to stay strong against decline.
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How bilingualism affects cognitive health in Hispanics with language disorders
This study is looking at how being bilingual might help Hispanic people with primary progressive aphasia, a type of dementia that affects language, by exploring how their language skills and experiences can influence their brain's ability to cope with the condition.
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Communication Bridge: Improving language therapy for people with primary progressive aphasia
A proven language-therapy program called Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia improve and maintain how they communicate with others.
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Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia talk more clearly
Aimed at people with primary progressive aphasia, this project tests a speech-language and psychosocial program delivered by telepractice to improve daily communication and quality of life.
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Transcranial current therapy for language in progressive aphasia
A world-class team is testing a painless brain-stimulation method to help people with primary progressive aphasia say more words and names.
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.