Can speaking Native languages and English protect memory in American Indian older adults?
Official title: Bilingualism as a protective factor of ADRD in American Indian adults: the Strong Heart Study
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11471312 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether speaking both Native languages and English helps lower the risk of memory loss and dementia in American Indian older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $586,737 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AG080398-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11471312 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are American Indian adults in the Strong Heart Study cohort, especially older adults (around age 65 and up) who can report their language history and complete cognitive testing.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not American Indian or who do not speak multiple languages may not find the results directly applicable to their own dementia risk.
What this research studies
You would see how lifelong language use relates to thinking and memory by using data from American Indian adults in the Strong Heart Study. The team combines language-history questions, cognitive tests, and health and social information to link bilingual experience with brain health. They will account for things like age, sex, education, past boarding-school experiences, physical and mental health, and social activity so results are fair and relevant. The goal is to improve how we measure and support brain health in American Indian communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify language-related strengths that help protect memory and guide culturally tailored dementia prevention for American Indian communities.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has reported mixed evidence that bilingualism supports cognitive reserve, but studies in American Indian communities are limited, so this project addresses an understudied gap.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Suchy-Dicey, Astrid M — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Suchy-Dicey, Astrid 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.