Investigating language use in bilinguals with Alzheimer's disease

Language Switching with Alzheimer's Disease

NIH-funded research University of California, San Diego · NIH-10825550

This study is looking at how Alzheimer's disease impacts people who speak both Spanish and English, focusing on how they use language and think, to better understand their unique challenges and improve support for them in healthcare settings.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Diego NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project IDNIH-10825550 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research explores how Alzheimer's disease affects Spanish-English bilingual individuals, focusing on their language processing and cognitive abilities. By applying cognitive neuropsychological methods, the study aims to understand the unique challenges bilinguals face, such as language switching and the impact of using one language over another during cognitive assessments. The researchers will conduct experiments to reveal the mechanisms behind cognitive deficits in bilinguals with Alzheimer's and provide insights on optimizing language use in clinical settings.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are Spanish-English bilingual individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Not a fit: Patients who are monolingual or do not have Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could improve cognitive assessment and treatment strategies for bilingual patients with Alzheimer's disease.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding bilingualism and cognitive decline, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

La Jolla, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementiaAlzheimer syndrome
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.