Exploring how bilingualism affects cognitive health in Hispanics with language disorders
Bilingual Factors Associated with Cognitive Reserve and Linguistic Resilience in Hispanics with Primary Progressive Aphasia
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.
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-11082935 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between bilingualism and cognitive reserve in Hispanic individuals diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a type of dementia that primarily affects language abilities. The study aims to understand how factors such as language proficiency, use, and age of acquisition influence cognitive resilience in bilingual patients. By examining these aspects, the research seeks to clarify the mixed findings regarding bilingualism's protective effects against Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Participants will be assessed through various cognitive and language evaluations to identify patterns of language decline and resilience.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are Hispanic individuals who are bilingual and have been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia.
Not a fit: Patients who are monolingual or do not have language-related dementia may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide insights into how bilingualism may help protect against cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results regarding the cognitive benefits of bilingualism, but this specific focus on PPA and bilingual factors is relatively novel.
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.