Executive Function
Conditions
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.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALDuolingo
Will learn Spanish using the commercially available Duolingo application. It is a computerized language training program.
BEHAVIORALBrainHQ
Will use the commercially available Posit Science product Brain HQ. Brain HQ is a computerized adaptive cognitive brain training program.
BEHAVIORALPassive Control
No Intervention.
Sponsors
University of Toronto
Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
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.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in inhibitory Control, DKEFS | change from baseline to 16 weeks | DKEFS Colour Word Interference |
| Change in working memory, n-back | change from baseline to 16 weeks | Working memory assessed by the n-back test |
| Change in inhibitory Control, Simon task | change from baseline to 16 weeks | Inhibitory control assessed by the Simon task |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish Proficiency (Duolingo group only) | change from baseline to 16 weeks | WebCAPE Online Spanish Test |
Countries
Canada
Contacts
Primary ContactJed Meltzer, Ph.D.
Outcome results
None listed