In:Understanding Language and Cognition through Bilingualism: In honor of Ellen Bialystok
Edited by Gigi Luk, John A.E. Anderson and John G. Grundy
[Studies in Bilingualism 64] 2023
► pp. 301–316
Chapter 14Bilingualism and brain structure
Insights from healthy ageing and progressive neurodegenerative diseases
Published online: 6 June 2023
https://doi.org/10.1075/sibil.64.14pli
https://doi.org/10.1075/sibil.64.14pli
Abstract
The study of the effects of bilingualism on
brain structure has gained significant traction in the last decade,
naturally following the pioneering work by Ellen Bialystok and
others on the effects of bilingualism on cognition. However, despite
the general interest and enthusiasm about the related evidence, the
field of bilingualism-induced structural brain plasticity remains
young and relatively unexplored. At the same time, this field has
been largely limited to young and healthy populations. This chapter
revisits and reviews the evidence about bilingualism-induced
neuroplasticity and the contemporary theories that provide
explanations of the available evidence, with a particular focus on
the ageing and patient bilingual brain. Specifically, a full account
of the reported effects on healthy ageing bilinguals is provided,
followed by the limited findings from diseases that cause
progressive brain decline, such as mild cognitive impairment,
Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases, epilepsy, and multiple
sclerosis. The chapter concludes with some suggestions for future
directions for the field.
Article outline
- 1.Bilingualism and brain structure: Evidence and theories
- a.The influence of Ellen in the field, and a personal anecdote
- b.Bilingualism and brain restructuring: What we know
- c.Explaining bilingualism-induced neuroplasticity as an effect of experiences: Theoretical proposals
- 2.Bilingualism and brain structure in healthy ageing
- 3.Bilingualism and brain structure in patient populations
- a.Mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease
- b.Other diseases
- 4.Future directions
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