Cognitive Reserve and Second Language Acquisition

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Executive Function
• Interventions: Behavioral: Duolingo; Behavioral: Passive Control; Behavioral: BrainHQ

• Registration Number: NCT03638882
• Lead Sponsor: Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest

Brief Summary

Bilingualism has been shown to have a strong protective effect against dementia, delaying the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease by up to 4 years. The purpose of the study is to test whether learning a second language using Duolingo software could improve cognitive functions in older adults.

Detailed Description

This study is a 3-arm, randomized controlled trial. The primary objective of the study is to test the impact of second language acquisition through short-term use of the Duolingo app on cognitive functioning, particularly executive function in older adults compared to a brain training application.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2018-07-04
• Study Start: 2018-08-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-08-17
• Study First Posted: 2018-08-20
• Status Verified: 2019-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-09-18
• Last Update Posted: 2019-09-19
• Primary Completion: 2020-06-01
• Study Completion: 2020-10-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 90

Inclusion Criteria

• Participants must have normal vision and hearing.
• Participants must be able to travel to Baycrest by personal or study-arranged automobile, or public transportation.
• Participants must be monolingual native English speakers.
• Participants must be willing to provide informed consent.
• Participants must have daily access to a smartphone/mobile device.
• Have not previously studied Spanish formally, nor any other language in the past 10 years.

Exclusion Criteria

• have a neurological disorder.
• meet DSM-IV-TR criteria for Axis I mood, anxiety, or psychotic or substance abuse disorders.
• Fluent in more than one language.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Duolingo Spanish Course	Duolingo	30 minutes each day, 5 days a week for 16 weeks. Total of 40 hours.
Passive Control	Passive Control	No intervention.
BrainHQ	BrainHQ	30 minutes each day, 5 days a week for 16 weeks. Total of 40 hours.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in inhibitory Control, DKEFS	change from baseline to 16 weeks	DKEFS Colour Word Interference
Change in inhibitory Control, Simon task	change from baseline to 16 weeks	Inhibitory control assessed by the Simon task
Change in working memory, n-back	change from baseline to 16 weeks	Working memory assessed by the n-back test

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in attention abilities	change from baseline to 16 weeks	Attention assessed by the Test of Everyday Attention (TEA)
Change in language abilities	change from baseline to 16 weeks	Winterlight designed battery assessing paragraph reading and recall, picture description and object naming.
change in verbal fluency	change from baseline to 16 weeks	semantic and phonological fluency tasks
executive function assessed by trailmaking test	change from baseline to 16 weeks	Trails B implemented on tablet

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Baycrest Health Sciences; 🇨🇦 Toronto, Ontario, Canada