Brain Structure in Bilingual Compared to Monolingual Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease: Proof of Concept.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Publication Title
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bilingualism is increasingly recognized as protective in persons at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
OBJECTIVE: Compare MRI measured brain volumes in matched bilinguals versus monolinguals with AD.
METHODS: This IRB approved study analyzed T1 volumetric brain MRIs of patients with criteria-supported Probable AD. We identified 17 sequential bilinguals (any native language) with Probable AD, matched to 28 (62%) monolinguals on age and MMSE. Brain volumes were quantified with Neuroreader. Regional volumes as fraction of total intracranial volume (TIV) were compared between both groups, and Cohen's D effect sizes were calculated for statistically significant structures. Partial correlations between bilingualism and brain volumes adjusted for age, gender, and TIV.
RESULTS: Bilinguals had higher brain volumes in 37 structures. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was observed in brainstem (t = 2.33, p = 0.02, Cohen's D = 0.71) and ventral diencephalon (t = 3.01, p = 0.004, Cohen's D = 0.91). Partial correlations showed statistical significance between bilingualism and larger volumes in brainstem (rp = 0 . 37, p = 0.01), thalamus (rp = 0.31, p = 0.04), ventral diencephalon (rp = 0.50, p = 0.001), and pallidum (rp = 0.38, p = 0.01). Bilingualism positively correlated with hippocampal volume, though not statistically significant (rp = 0.17, p = 0.26). No brain volumes were larger in monolinguals.
CONCLUSION: Bilinguals demonstrated larger thalamic, ventral diencephalon, and brainstem volumes compared to matched monolinguals with AD. This may represent a neural substrate for increased cognitive reserve in bilingualism. Future studies should extrapolate this finding into cognitively normal persons at risk for AD.
Clinical Institute
Cancer
Clinical Institute
Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)
Department
Oncology
Department
Neurosciences
Recommended Citation
Raji, Cyrus A; Meysami, Somayeh; Merrill, David A; Porter, Verna R; and Mendez, Mario F, "Brain Structure in Bilingual Compared to Monolingual Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease: Proof of Concept." (2020). Articles, Abstracts, and Reports. 3248.
https://digitalcommons.providence.org/publications/3248
