Lost For Words: Cognitive Ageing And Language Control In Bilingual Older Adults With And Without Cognitive Impairment

语言对于交流是至关重要的，但随着年龄的增长，语言变得更具挑战性。超过20%的欧洲人年龄在65岁以上，我们需要了解年龄对语言的影响。尽管世界上有一半以上的人都是双语者，但研究主要集中在单语者身上。双语者不仅使用目标语言，还需要管理语言之间的竞争，避免非目标语言的干扰，并转换语言。为了做到这一点，他们应用了语言控制。失控(例如，使用对方听不懂的语言)会极大地阻碍交流。MultiAge研究了双语语言控制如何随着健康老龄化和认知障碍的变化而变化，提出了四个问题：1.跨语言环境的行为和神经语言控制机制如何随年龄变化？2.现实生活中的语言体验如何随年龄变化并与控制相互作用？3.与对话伙伴交流如何影响衰老过程中的语言？4.认知障碍如何影响双语控制？Multiage将建立关于语言控制、健康老龄化和认知障碍的新理论框架。它系统地比较了不同的双语控制组件在控制需求不同的上下文中的差异。它考察了类似的机制是否被用于语言间、语言内和语义控制。除了按年龄组比较外，我们还通过结合行为、神经成像(FNIRS)研究和焦点小组纵向评估晚年生活的变化。虽然大多数研究都集中在孤立的单词产生上，但Multiage研究的是日常生活经验以及与其他双语者的互动。与被忽视的双语群体合作，确保了新的理论超越了只说英语的人。最后，比较健康的衰老和认知障碍可能会发现检测认知障碍的新工具。

Language is crucial for communication but becomes more challenging with age. With over 20% of Europeans aged over 65 years, we need to understand the impact of age on language. Despite over half of the world being bilingual, research has focused on monolinguals. Bilinguals do not just use a target language but also need to manage between-language competition, avoid nontarget language interference, and switch languages. To do this, they apply language control. Lapses in control (e.g., using a language not understood by the other person) can greatly hinder communication.MultiAge examines how bilingual language control changes with healthy ageing and cognitive impairment, asking four questions:1. How do behavioural and neural language-control mechanisms change with age across language contexts?2. How do real-life language experiences change with age and interact with control?3. How does communicating with a conversation partner influence language during ageing?4. How does cognitive impairment influence bilingual control?MultiAge will build new theoretical frameworks on language control, healthy ageing, and cognitive impairment. It systematically compares different bilingual-control components across contexts varying in their control demands. It examines whether similar mechanisms are used for between-language, within-language, and semantic control. In addition to age-group comparisons, we assess changes in later life longitudinally by combining behavioural, neuroimaging (fNIRS) research, and focus groups. While most research focuses on word production in isolation, MultiAge examines daily-life experiences and interactions with other bilinguals. Working with overlooked bilingual groups ensures new theories move beyond English-monolingual speakers. Finally, comparing healthy ageing and cognitive impairment has potential to identify novel tools to detect cognitive impairment.