Associations of multilingualism and language proficiency with cognitive functioning: epidemiological evidence from the SwissDEM study in community dwelling older adults and long-term care residents
Abstract Background We explored whether number of languages spoken and language proficiency are associated with cognitive performance among older adults living in the community and in long-term care (LTC) in Switzerland. Methods Among study participants, 664 lived in the community in the Canton of Z...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04311-4 |
| _version_ | 1797451533698203648 |
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| author | Deborah Pacifico Serena Sabatini Maddalena Fiordelli Anna Maria Annoni Anja Frei Milo Puhan Gwendolyn Graf Emiliano Albanese |
| author_facet | Deborah Pacifico Serena Sabatini Maddalena Fiordelli Anna Maria Annoni Anja Frei Milo Puhan Gwendolyn Graf Emiliano Albanese |
| author_sort | Deborah Pacifico |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background We explored whether number of languages spoken and language proficiency are associated with cognitive performance among older adults living in the community and in long-term care (LTC) in Switzerland. Methods Among study participants, 664 lived in the community in the Canton of Zurich (Mean age = 72.97 years; SD = 6.08), 386 lived in the community in Ticino (Mean age = 76.24 years; SD = 6.66), and 176 resided in LTC in Ticino (Mean age = 87.61 years; SD = 6.45). We recorded sociodemographic variables, number of languages spoken, language proficiency, and assessed overall cognitive performance, immediate and delayed memory, and verbal fluency with standardized tests. We used adjusted regression models. Results A higher number of spoken languages was positively associated with overall cognitive performance, verbal fluency and immediate and delayed memory performance in community-dwelling older adults in the Cantons of Ticino and Zurich, (all p values ≤ 0.012;), but not in in older adults living in LTC homes (all p values ≥ 0.35). Higher language proficiency was associated with better memory performance among individuals living in the community in Ticino (p value = 0.003), and to better performance in verbal fluency and memory tasks in Zurich (p values ≤ 0.002). Among LTC residents, proficiency levels were not associated with cognitive performance. Conclusions Multilingualism and greater language proficiency were associated with better cognitive functioning in community-dwelling but not in institutionalized older adults. Multilingualism may contribute to cognitive reserve, as well as protect and delay cognitive decline in late life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:56:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48899bfaf1c046bda5ea9aad8dcd19d9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:56:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-48899bfaf1c046bda5ea9aad8dcd19d92023-11-26T14:11:21ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182023-10-0123111110.1186/s12877-023-04311-4Associations of multilingualism and language proficiency with cognitive functioning: epidemiological evidence from the SwissDEM study in community dwelling older adults and long-term care residentsDeborah Pacifico0Serena Sabatini1Maddalena Fiordelli2Anna Maria Annoni3Anja Frei4Milo Puhan5Gwendolyn Graf6Emiliano Albanese7Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera ItalianaSchool of Medicine, University of NottinghamInstitute of Public Health, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera ItalianaInstitute of Public Health, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera ItalianaEpidemiology Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of ZurichEpidemiology Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of ZurichEpidemiology Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of ZurichInstitute of Public Health, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera ItalianaAbstract Background We explored whether number of languages spoken and language proficiency are associated with cognitive performance among older adults living in the community and in long-term care (LTC) in Switzerland. Methods Among study participants, 664 lived in the community in the Canton of Zurich (Mean age = 72.97 years; SD = 6.08), 386 lived in the community in Ticino (Mean age = 76.24 years; SD = 6.66), and 176 resided in LTC in Ticino (Mean age = 87.61 years; SD = 6.45). We recorded sociodemographic variables, number of languages spoken, language proficiency, and assessed overall cognitive performance, immediate and delayed memory, and verbal fluency with standardized tests. We used adjusted regression models. Results A higher number of spoken languages was positively associated with overall cognitive performance, verbal fluency and immediate and delayed memory performance in community-dwelling older adults in the Cantons of Ticino and Zurich, (all p values ≤ 0.012;), but not in in older adults living in LTC homes (all p values ≥ 0.35). Higher language proficiency was associated with better memory performance among individuals living in the community in Ticino (p value = 0.003), and to better performance in verbal fluency and memory tasks in Zurich (p values ≤ 0.002). Among LTC residents, proficiency levels were not associated with cognitive performance. Conclusions Multilingualism and greater language proficiency were associated with better cognitive functioning in community-dwelling but not in institutionalized older adults. Multilingualism may contribute to cognitive reserve, as well as protect and delay cognitive decline in late life.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04311-4MultilingualismProficiencyCognitive reserveCognitionMemoryVerbal fluency |
| spellingShingle | Deborah Pacifico Serena Sabatini Maddalena Fiordelli Anna Maria Annoni Anja Frei Milo Puhan Gwendolyn Graf Emiliano Albanese Associations of multilingualism and language proficiency with cognitive functioning: epidemiological evidence from the SwissDEM study in community dwelling older adults and long-term care residents BMC Geriatrics Multilingualism Proficiency Cognitive reserve Cognition Memory Verbal fluency |
| title | Associations of multilingualism and language proficiency with cognitive functioning: epidemiological evidence from the SwissDEM study in community dwelling older adults and long-term care residents |
| title_full | Associations of multilingualism and language proficiency with cognitive functioning: epidemiological evidence from the SwissDEM study in community dwelling older adults and long-term care residents |
| title_fullStr | Associations of multilingualism and language proficiency with cognitive functioning: epidemiological evidence from the SwissDEM study in community dwelling older adults and long-term care residents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations of multilingualism and language proficiency with cognitive functioning: epidemiological evidence from the SwissDEM study in community dwelling older adults and long-term care residents |
| title_short | Associations of multilingualism and language proficiency with cognitive functioning: epidemiological evidence from the SwissDEM study in community dwelling older adults and long-term care residents |
| title_sort | associations of multilingualism and language proficiency with cognitive functioning epidemiological evidence from the swissdem study in community dwelling older adults and long term care residents |
| topic | Multilingualism Proficiency Cognitive reserve Cognition Memory Verbal fluency |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04311-4 |
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