The Study
Bilingualism is associated with a later age of symptom onset in bilinguals with Alzheimer’s disease positive biomarkers
We couldn't fully understand what type of study this is, so we're being extra careful about what conclusions to draw from it.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
This study looked at people with Alzheimer's disease and compared those who speak two languages (bilingual) to those who speak only one (monolingual). They wanted to see if bilingual people get symptoms later in life.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 534 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes, a 2-year delay in symptom onset can be meaningful for patients and families, as it may allow more time without cognitive decline.
- 2Bilingual people with Alzheimer's disease started having symptoms about 2 years later than monolingual people.
- 3On average, bilinguals had their first symptoms at age 71.4, while monolinguals had them at age 69.75.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Year
2023
Authors
Stephanie M Grasso, Sonia Karin Marques‐Kiderle, Marco Calabria, Isabel Sala, Í. Rodríguez-Baz, Nuole Zhu, J. Arranz, S. Rubio-Guerra, I. Illán-Gala, M. Carmona‐Iragui, D. Alcolea, J. Fortea, A. Lleó, M. Santos-Santos
Related Content
Claims (4)
People who speak two languages start having thinking and memory problems about 4 years later than people who speak only one language.
People in Catalonia who speak both Catalan and Spanish get Alzheimer's symptoms about 2 years later than people who speak only one language. In other places, the delay is 4–5 years, but in Catalonia it's only 2 years because even people who think they speak only one language actually hear the other language often.
People who speak two languages start showing Alzheimer's symptoms about two years later than people who speak only one, even when you account for their education and mental sharpness.
For people with Alzheimer's, speaking two languages is linked to symptoms starting later in life, even when education and thinking abilities are similar.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.