Cognitive Reserve and Second Language Acquisition

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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Boosting Cognitive Reserve Through Adult Second Language Acquisition With Duolingo

Conditions
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Executive Function

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Duolingo
* Behavioral: BrainHQ
* Behavioral: Passive Control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Duolingo Spanish Course<br>30 minutes each day, 5 days a week for 16 weeks. Total of 40 hours. | Behavioral: Duolingo<br>* Will learn Spanish using the commercially available Duolingo application. It is a computerized language training program.<br>|
| Active Comparator: BrainHQ<br>30 minutes each day, 5 days a week for 16 weeks. Total of 40 hours. | Behavioral: BrainHQ<br>* Will use the commercially available Posit Science product Brain HQ. Brain HQ is a computerized adaptive cognitive brain training program.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Passive Control<br>No intervention. | Behavioral: Passive Control<br>* No Intervention.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

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

Secondary Outcome Measures

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