Bilingualism as a protective factor of ADRD in American Indian adults: the Strong Heart Study

Status: Current

Grant Start: 04/01/2023

Grant End: 01/31/2028

American Indian populations are more likely to simultaneously suffer from cerebrovascular disease—such as stroke—and Alzheimer’s disease than non-Hispanic white U.S. populations and may also have a greater burden of cognitive decline and dementia. Bilingualism—which is common in American Indian communities—may reduce cognitive risk, but research on bilingualism in this population has been limited. Bilingualism is a highly individual experience, and the context of use can modify its effects on cognition. Building on the Strong Heart Study—a long-running study of aging in American Indian adults over three geographic regions—this study will be the first to culturally adapt a language use and history instrument to evaluate bilingualism in a large number of American Indians of multiple generations in conjunction with cognitive performance testing. Findings from this project will have potential implications for future prevention and treatment strategies in this understudied population. The project’s specific aims are:

Aim 1. Culturally adapt and measure the Bilingual Language Profile for American Indian adults

Aim 2. Examine associations of the continuum of bilingualism, using both newly adapted and existing measures, with the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery.

Aim 3. Examine the moderating roles of crystalized cognition and educational achievement with respect to relationships between bilingualism and fluid cognition in American Indian adults.

Partners

  • Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc. (MBIRI)
  • MedStar Health Research Institute (MHRI)
  • University of Oklahoma Health Science Center (OUHSC)
  • Strong Heart Study

Funding Sponsors

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • National Institute on Aging (NIA)

IREACH Programs

Principal Investigator(s)

Team Member(s)