The Impact of L2 Learning on Cognitive Aging

Cheng, Kuo Hsing; Deng, YanHui; Li, Ming; Yan, Hong

doi:10.5599/admet.3.3.206

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…Although there is some neural deterioration that rises with age, the brain has the capacity to increase neural activity and develop neural scaffolding to regulate cognitive function (Park and Reuter-Lorenz, 2009 ; Reuter-Lorenz and Park, 2014 ). For example, Cheng et al ( 2015 ) maintain that both short-term and long-term period of foreign language learning may lead to the changes in the structure of the brain, which consequently may contribute to the promotion of the cognitive reserve, i.e., the resilience to neuropathological damage of the brain (Stern, 2013 ). This has been also confirmed by Lee and Tzeng ( 2016 ), who claim that foreign language learning results in effective structural as well as functional connectivity in the brain due to neural plasticity.…”

Section: Findings and Their Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning a Foreign Language: A Review on Recent Findings About Its Effect on the Enhancement of Cognitive Functions Among Healthy Older Individuals

Klímová

2018

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Currently, there is an increasing number of older population groups, especially in developed countries. This demographic trend, however, may cause serious problems, such as an increase in aging diseases, one of which is dementia whose main symptom consists in the decline of cognitive functioning. Although there has been ongoing pharmacological research on this neurological disorder, it has not brought satisfying results as far as its treatment is concerned. Therefore, governments all over the world are trying to develop alternative, non-pharmacological strategies/activities, which could help to prevent this cognitive decline while this aging population is still healthy in order to reduce future economic and social burden. One of the non-pharmacological approaches, which may enhance cognitive abilities and protect against the decline in healthy older population, seems to be the learning of a foreign language. The purpose of this mini-review article is to discuss recent findings about the effect of foreign language learning on the enhancement of cognitive functions among healthy older individuals. The findings, divided into three research areas, show that the learning of a foreign language may generate a lot of benefits for older individuals, such as enhancement of cognitive functioning, their self-esteem, increased opportunities of socializing, or reduction of costs. However, as Ware et al. (2017) indicate, any intervention program on foreign language learning should be well thought of and tailored to the needs of older people in order to be effective and avoid accompanying factors, such as older people’s anxiety or low self-confidence. Nevertheless, more empirical studies should be done in this area.

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Section: Findings and Their Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning a Foreign Language: A Review on Recent Findings About Its Effect on the Enhancement of Cognitive Functions Among Healthy Older Individuals

Klímová

2018

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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“…All these contribute to a higher cognitive reserve. 14 Thus, bilingualism is considered to be connected with cognitive advantage, 15 since research 16 has shown that language does not only reflect the mind but also modify the brain to certain degree even in older age. Bak et al, 17 Goral et al, 18 and Luk et al 19 report that bilingual people may enhance their cognitive reserve at later age, thanks to the use of two languages, and the so-called mental flexibility.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bilingualism as a strategy to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease

Klímová¹,

Vališ²,

Kuča³

2017

CIA

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The purpose of this study is to explore original studies which provide evidence about the effects of bilingualism on the delay of the onset of dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A literature review was conducted in the world’s acknowledged databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and MEDLINE. Altogether, 14 original studies focusing on the research topic were detected. These included six prospective cohort studies and eight retrospective studies. Both types of studies suggest different conclusions. The findings from the prospective cohort studies state that there is no association between bilingualism and the delay of the onset of AD, while the retrospective studies claim the opposite. Despite the negative results of the prospective cohort studies, more research should be conducted on bilingualism and its impact on the delay of the onset of AD, since the brain studies have brought positive findings as far as the enhancement of cognitive reserve is concerned.

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“…In the case of seniors, semantic memory, which is also referred to as facts and occurrences storage does not deteriorate with age. Klimova (2018) writes that the brain retains a considerable plasticity in old age; she quotes Cheng at al. (2015) who maintain that a short and long-term period of foreign language learning might lead to the changes in the brain structure that can consequently contribute to the resilience to the neuropathological damage of the brain.…”

Section: Figure 1 Population Growth In Age Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Educational Needs of Senior Learners in Learning Foreign Languages

Bała

Rosiński

2022

JPEPSI

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This paper is concerned with the general issues of ageing, learning and focusing on foreign language education for the elderly. Firstly, it examines demographic changes and their consequences. Secondly, it focuses on the phenomenon of “active ageing” and “long-time learning” concept. Furthermore, it studies the more specific issues of why, how and what seniors want to learn when starting or continuing to learn foreign languages. In the paper, the role of an educator is emphasised as well as logistic solutions that institutions providing for seniors adapt.

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The Impact of L2 Learning on Cognitive Aging

Cited by 10 publications

References 77 publications

Learning a Foreign Language: A Review on Recent Findings About Its Effect on the Enhancement of Cognitive Functions Among Healthy Older Individuals

Learning a Foreign Language: A Review on Recent Findings About Its Effect on the Enhancement of Cognitive Functions Among Healthy Older Individuals

Bilingualism as a strategy to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease

Educational Needs of Senior Learners in Learning Foreign Languages

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The Impact of L2 Learning on Cognitive Aging

Cited by 10 publications

References 77 publications

Learning a Foreign Language: A Review on Recent Findings About Its Effect on the Enhancement of Cognitive Functions Among Healthy Older Individuals

Learning a Foreign Language: A Review on Recent Findings About Its Effect on the Enhancement of Cognitive Functions Among Healthy Older Individuals

Bilingualism as a strategy to delay the onset of Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease

Educational Needs of Senior Learners in Learning Foreign Languages

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Product

Resources

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Bilingualism as a strategy to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease