Language skills reduce dementia risk

[Posted: Thu 09/07/2009 by Olivia Fens]

People who have superior language skills early in life may have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, new research indicates.

The study found that those with good language skills in their early 20s were more likely to remain ‘cognitively normal’ for the next 50 or 60 years, even if their brains showed signs of dementia damage.

Around 40,000 people in Ireland have dementia, the most common form of which is Alzheimer’s disease. There is currently no cure.

In the study, researchers from Johns Hopkins University in the US examined the brains of 38 nuns after death.

The researchers divided the nuns into two groups: those with memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease hallmarks in the brain; and those with normal memory with or without signs of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain.

The researchers analysed essays that the participants wrote as they entered the convent in their late teens or early 20s, assessing the complexity of language and grammar.

They found that language scores were 20% higher in the women without memory problems compared to those with memory problems. The grammar score, however, did not show any difference between the two groups.

“Perhaps mental abilities at age 20 are indicative of a brain that will be better able to cope with diseases later in life,” the researchers said.

The study was published in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology called Neurology.

For more information on dementia go to our Alzheimer's clinic,
click on http://www.irishhealth.com/clin/alzheim/index.html

Anonymous  Posted: 13/07/2009 11:38

I don;t think this shows the bigger picture, how much of the better linguistic ability in that group when they were younger was down to overall intelligence, better education and a home enviroment more conducive to reading and discussing.

dignity 09  Posted: 26/07/2009 11:43

I was living in Belfast during the late 70's and attended Greman language classes. There were many older people there - mostly because their grandchildren spoke only Greman. Their positive attitude and zest for life embarised me. Would that more "older" persons went back to school with their youthful exhuberance.  Peter

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