Understanding language challenges in bilingual individuals after strokes and with dementia
Official title: Computational modeling of language impairment and control in bilingual individuals with post-stroke aphasia and neurodegenerative disorders
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-10920366 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how being bilingual influences how people who have had strokes or are dealing with brain disorders understand and use language, especially in the Hispanic community, to help improve care for bilingual patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $653,131 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020653-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10920366 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are bilingual Hispanic individuals aged 55 and older who have experienced a stroke or are diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not bilingual or those who do not have language impairments related to strokes or neurodegenerative disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how bilingualism affects language processing in individuals who have experienced strokes or are facing neurodegenerative disorders, particularly within the Hispanic community. By using computational modeling, the study aims to simulate and analyze the complexities of language impairment and recovery in these populations. The approach involves examining bilingual individuals with varying language proficiency to understand how their language abilities may decline or recover after neurological events. This research seeks to provide insights that could improve clinical services for bilingual patients suffering from these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for bilingual individuals with language impairments due to strokes or dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding bilingual language processing, but this specific approach using computational modeling is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kiran, Swathi — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Kiran, Swathi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Neural signals linked to recovery from aphasia after stroke
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Computational modeling of language in bilingual adults after stroke and with neurodegenerative conditions
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-
Restoring speech with a brain implant for stroke-related aphasia
A study at UC Davis aims to help people who have language trouble after a stroke by using a tiny brain implant to turn brain signals into spoken words.
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Predicting language recovery after stroke using AI
A new AI-based project uses brain scans and personal data to forecast how aphasia may progress after a stroke, with the goal of guiding personalized treatment.
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Neural signals of getting speech back after stroke
This grant studies how the brain changes as people recover speech after a stroke, to help predict and improve language recovery.
-
How the brain recovers language after a stroke
This research follows people with aphasia after stroke to find brain and behavior signs that predict who will regain speech and language.
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.