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

语言是沟通的关键，但随着年龄的增长变得更具挑战性。超过20%的欧洲人年龄超过65岁，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是双语者，但研究一直集中在单语者身上。双语者不仅仅使用目标语言，还需要管理语言之间的竞争，避免非目标语言干扰，并切换语言。为了做到这一点，他们实行语言控制。控制失误（例如，MultiAge研究了双语语言控制如何随着健康老龄化和认知障碍而变化，提出了四个问题：1.行为和神经语言控制机制如何在语言环境中随年龄变化？2.现实生活中的语言体验如何随着年龄的增长而变化，并与控制相互作用？3.与谈话伙伴的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将在语言控制、健康老龄化和认知障碍方面建立新的理论框架。它系统地比较不同的双语控制组件在不同的控制需求的上下文中。它检查是否类似的机制用于语言间，语言内，和语义控制。除了年龄组的比较，我们通过结合行为，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研究了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，确保新的理论超越英语单语者。最后，比较健康老龄化和认知障碍有可能发现新的工具来检测认知障碍。

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.