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The Spanish-English bilingual experience and cognitive change in Hispanics/Latinos from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging.

TitleThe Spanish-English bilingual experience and cognitive change in Hispanics/Latinos from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging.
Publication TypePublication
Year2022
AuthorsLamar M, Tarraf W, Wu B, Perreira KM, Lipton RB, Khambaty T, Cai J, Llabre MM, Gallo LC, Daviglus ML, González HM
JournalAlzheimers Dement
Date Published2022 Jun 29
ISSN1552-5279
Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Studies suggest bilingualism may delay behavioral manifestations of adverse cognitive aging including Alzheimer's dementia.METHODS: Three thousand nine hundred sixty-three participants (unweighted mean population age ≈56 years) at Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos baseline (2008-2011) self-reported their and their parents' birth outside the United States, Spanish as their first language, and used Spanish for baseline and comparable cognitive testing 7 years later (2015-2018). Spanish/English language proficiency and patterns of use were self-rated from 1 = only Spanish to 4 = English > Spanish. Cognitive testing included test-specific and global composite score(s) of verbal learning, memory, word fluency, and Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS). Survey linear regression models examined associations between baseline bilingualism scores and cognition.RESULTS: Higher second-language (English) proficiency and use were associated with higher global cognition, fluency, and DSS at follow-up and better than predicted change in fluency.DISCUSSION: The bilingual experience was more consistently related to 7-year level versus change in cognition for Hispanics/Latinos.

DOI10.1002/alz.12703
Alternate JournalAlzheimers Dement
PubMed ID35768881
PubMed Central IDPMC9797616
Grant ListHHSN268201300005C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201300004C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201300001C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC65236 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC65235 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG062711 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01HC65233 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC65237 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201300003C / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
R01AG062711 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R56AG048642 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R56 AG048642 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-65233 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC65234 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
MS#: 
0635
Manuscript Lead/Corresponding Author Affiliation: 
Field Center: Chicago (University of Illinois at Chicago)
ECI: 
Manuscript Affiliation: 
Field Center: Chicago (University of Illinois at Chicago)
Manuscript Status: 
Published