The Spanish-English bilingual advantage in the older Hispanic population

Date of Submission

Spring 2025

Document Type

Closed Research Project

Degree Name

Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Department

Speech-Language Pathology

First Advisor

Beatriz Barragan, PhD

Abstract

This study compared the executive function skills (working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility) between younger and older Spanish-English bilingual adults. Data were collected from 20 older Spanish- English speaking adults (G2), ages 55 to 69, and compared to previously collected data from 20 younger Spanish-English speaking adults (G1), ages 20 to 31. The study used cognitive tasks to measure motor memory (hand movement task), working memory (digit-span and non-word repetition tasks in both English and Spanish), and executive function tasks to measure inhibition (Flanker task) and cognitive shifting (switching task). Language proficiency in both English and Spanish was self-reported through the LEAP- Q. Younger adults performed significantly better than the older adults on the hand movement task, NWR in English and Spanish, English digit span, and switching task accuracy and reaction time. In contrast, the older adults significantly outperformed the younger group in accuracy on the Flanker task and demonstrated better reaction times, although not statistically significant. This shows that older adults were more accurate and faster in inhibition control performance. Both groups performed similarly in the Spanish digit-span, suggesting that bilingualism may help older adults preserve memory skills, particularly in their dominant language. These findings suggest that long-term bilingualism may produce cognitive enhancements in specific domains, such as inhibition control, rather than a general advantages across all cognitive functions.

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