Abstract

Introduction
This study examined whether multilingualism modified the adverse effect of illiteracy on cognition among older Indian adults with low to no formal schooling.
Methods
Data came from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India‐Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia (N = 2533, Mage = 70.3 years, 84% illiterate, 24% multilingual, ≤4 years of education). Generalized linear models and propensity score matching assessed whether multilingualism modified the association between illiteracy and domain‐specific cognition.
Results
Illiteracy was negatively associated with cognition, while multilingualism was positively associated. While multilingualism did not buffer the association of illiteracy, it did increase the positive association of literacy with executive functioning and memory.
Discussion
These findings highlight the detrimental effects of illiteracy on cognition, while multilingualism appears beneficial among …

Date

January 1, 1970

Authors

Iris M Strangmann, Emily Briceño, Sarah Petrosyan, Erik Meijer, Emma Nichols, Lindsay C Kobayashi, Shrikanth Narayanan, Jinkook Lee, Miguel Arce Rentería

Journal

Alzheimer's & Dementia: Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging

Volume

1

Issue

2

Pages

e70018