Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: June 25, 2019
Deconstructing bilingualism and its sociocultural determinants in cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease and related
Miguel Arce Rentería1, Iris M Strangmann1, Ladan Ghazi Saidi2,3
1Department of Neurology, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, New York, USA.
Abstract:
Despite bilingualism being highly prevalent worldwide, the role of bilingualism in cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) remains inconclusive. Gaps include whether bilingual adults show reduced ADRD risk, how cognitive decline manifests across both languages, and what considerations are needed for accurate clinical assessment and intervention. The Bilingualism, Languages and Literacy Special Interest Group, part of the Diversity and Disparities Professional Interest Area, gathered an international, interdisciplinary group of researchers to identify key methodological factors impacting the study of bilingualism in cognitive aging and ADRD. Factors identified ranged from the operationalization and measurement of bilingualism, heterogeneity of bilingual populations, inconsistent accounting of sociocultural influences, scarcity of best practices in the clinical assessment and interventions of/for bilingual adults, and limited inclusion of conceptual frameworks. Findings generated reporting recommendations designed to increase rigor, comparability, and reproducibility across studies, and provide guidance for strengthening future research involving bilingual adults.
Related Concept Videos
Language and Cognition
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Dementia l: Introduction
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

