Effects of foreign language learning on executive functions in healthy older adults: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Judith Alina Grossmann,Verena Magdalena Koelsch,Merve Gul Degirmenci,Birgit Teichmann,Patric Meyer,Steffen Aschenbrenner

doi:10.1186/s12877-021-02051-x

Abstract

BackgroundWith age, most cognitive functions decline. As the number of people aged 60 years and older is expected to rise rapidly within the next decades, identifying interventions that promote healthy cognitive ageing is of utmost importance. Promising research on bilingualism has led to the notion that learning a foreign language could protect against cognitive decline. Foreign language learning likely promotes executive functions, which are higher-order cognitive abilities particularly affected by age-related cognitive decline. However, evidence is still sparse and has produced contradictory results. This study aims to investigate the effects of short and intensive foreign language learning on executive functions in healthy older adults.MethodsIn a randomised controlled trial, we will assign 60 native German-speaking monolingual healthy older adults, aged 65–80 years, to either a foreign language learning or a waiting list control group. Language learners will attend a face-to-face, group-based Spanish course for beginners for 1.5 h a day, 5 days a week, for a total of 3 weeks. Cognitive performance in executive functions will be assessed before and after the intervention or after a waiting period of 3 weeks (waiting list control group). Participants will be tested again after 3 months to evaluate longitudinal effects of foreign language learning. The waiting list control group will receive Spanish lessons only after the final assessment and will be invited to an additional voluntary evaluation after completion of the course.DiscussionTo the best of our knowledge, we are conducting the first randomised controlled trial on the effects of short and intensive foreign language learning in older adulthood on executive functions. Enhanced cognitive performance after foreign language learning would indicate that learning a foreign language could enlarge cognitive reserve and thus promote healthy cognitive ageing in older adults.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00016552. Registered on 11 February 2019.

Highlights

IntroductionPromising research on bilingualism has led to the notion that learning a foreign language could protect against cognitive decline
Mental activity builds up a cognitive reserve, which is a presumed mechanism for coping with age-related brain damage through a more effective and flexible use of cognitive networks [11]
We will inform participants and interested individuals, groups, and institutions about trial results. In this randomised controlled trial, we will investigate whether foreign language learning can improve executive functions (EF) in healthy older adults

Summary

Introduction

Promising research on bilingualism has led to the notion that learning a foreign language could protect against cognitive decline. Foreign language learning likely promotes executive functions, which are higher-order cognitive abilities affected by age-related cognitive decline. This study aims to investigate the effects of short and intensive foreign language learning on executive functions in healthy older adults. Cognitive benefits have already been documented for a variety of cognitively stimulating mental activities in older age such as playing the piano [7] or video gaming [8] (see [9] for a review, see [10]). Interest in foreign language learning as a cognitively stimulating mental activity later in life has only recently emerged and could constitute a promising approach to benefit cognitive functioning

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