Enhancing Cognitive Performance of Healthy Czech Seniors through Non-Native Language Learning-A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study.

Blanka Klimova,Jaroslav Kacetl,Jaroslav Kacetl,Jaroslav Kacetl,Martin Valis,Martin Valis,Pavel Prazak,Gabriela Slaninova,Gabriela Slaninova,Gabriela Slaninova

doi:10.3390/brainsci10090573

Blanka Klimova, Jaroslav Kacetl + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10090573

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Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss the effect of learning a non-native language on the enhancement of cognitive performance in healthy native Czech elderly. In addition, special emphasis is put on the qualitative assessment. To do this, 42 Czech cognitively unimpaired seniors were enrolled into the study. These were then divided into an experimental group (i.e., 20 healthy elderly studied English as a non-native language for three months) and a passive control group (22 healthy elderly, who did not undergo any non-native language intervention). The main outcome measures included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, statistical processing of the data, and a qualitative content analysis. The results indicate that the cognitive performance of the intervention group did not differ from the control group. Therefore, no cognitive enhancement through non-native language learning was achieved. However, the findings of the qualitative analysis show that such non-native language learning with the peers of the same age is especially beneficial for the overall well-being of healthy seniors, especially as far as their social networks are concerned. Furthermore, participant’s subjective feelings from their self-reports indicate that foreign language learning also contributes to acquiring new English words and phrases. However, as there are very few empirical studies on this research topic, further research is needed in order to confirm or refute the present research findings on the enhancement of cognitive performance through non-native language learning in healthy seniors.

Highlights

The Czech Republic, as well as other developed countries, is expected to struggle in the 21st century with the serious economic and social consequences of the current trend toward population ageing [1,2]
Based on the results of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) pre-test, which was attended by 60 seniors, only 42 cognitively unimpaired subjects were chosen for the experiment
Motivation to continue in studying English (4). The findings of this pilot study indicate that the enhancement in cognitive performance through non-native language learning in healthy Czech elderly did not happen

Summary

Introduction

The Czech Republic, as well as other developed countries, is expected to struggle in the 21st century with the serious economic and social consequences of the current trend toward population ageing [1,2]. This will inevitably lead to an increasing number of people suffering from age-related diseases, such as dementia. Alternative preventive interventions demand exploration in order to contain the cognitive decline linked to health deterioration in the latter part of life [5]. One such preventive intervention is foreign language learning. Research has shown that foreign language learning is an important activity in later age because it may boost the cognitive reserve of seniors [6], as well as preserve lifelong brain plasticity [7], which has been evidenced by studies on bilingualism

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