Speaking two languages and brain health in aging and Alzheimer's
Official title: The Role of Bilingualism in Cognitive and Brain Resilience: Addressing the Complexity
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11472064 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will look at whether speaking two or more languages helps protect thinking skills and brain structure in older adults, including people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $78,970 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG080396-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11472064 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults, both monolingual and bilingual, including those with or at risk for Alzheimer's, who can complete cognitive testing and brain imaging.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking an immediate treatment or cure, those unable to undergo testing like MRI, or those with very advanced dementia may not receive direct benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You'll be part of a long-term group of older adults where researchers compare people who speak one language and people who speak two or more languages. They will use memory and thinking tests, brain scans, and Alzheimer's biological markers to see whether bilingual speakers have less brain pathology or keep thinking skills better despite pathology. The team will also look at different kinds of thinking tasks, cultural and language background, and types of Alzheimer's to understand when bilingualism helps most. The work uses an existing, well-characterized cohort followed over time at UCSF.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could support preserving or promoting bilingualism as a low-cost way to delay cognitive decline or help tailor care for people at risk of Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown mixed results—some report delayed symptoms in bilinguals while others find little effect—so this project aims to clarify those inconsistencies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deleon, Jessica Anne — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Deleon, Jessica Anne
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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.