Interacting in Multiple Languages Contributes to Cognitive Resilience  in Malaysian Older Adults

Khazriyati Salehuddin; Fatin Nadiah Mahmud; Rozainee Khairudin; Annette Shamala Arokiaraj

Interacting in Multiple Languages Contributes to Cognitive Resilience in Malaysian Older Adults

Khazriyati Salehuddin, Fatin Nadiah Mahmud, Rozainee Khairudin, Annette Shamala Arokiaraj

Abstract

Cognitive reserve in everyday problem-solving and decision-making abilities is influenced by both demographic and experiential factors. Cognitive reserve should ideally remain stable across one’s lifespan; however, ageing is often accompanied by cognitive decline for some individuals, highlighting the need to identify factors that may help preserve cognitive reserve in later life. Malaysia’s multilingual landscape provides a unique context for examining whether lifelong exposure to multiple languages contributes to cognitive resilience in older adults. Therefore, this study investigates whether or not being bilingual or plurilingual contributes to cognitive resilience among Malaysian older adults who participated in the MyAgeWell Program. 352 community-dwelling participants above 60 years old completed assessments of global cognition, everyday functional problem-solving, and decision-making tasks. Cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), whereas everyday cognitive processing and behavioural decision-making were assessed using the Malaysian Everyday Problems Test (MEPT). Age and Number of Languages spoken were treated as primary predictors, while Gender, Ethnicity, and Religion were included as control variables. General Linear Model (GLM) analyses were conducted to examine the associations between age, number of languages, and MoCA and MEPT scores, controlling for demographic factors. Partial eta squared (η²p) was reported as a measure of effect size. The overall GLMs were significant for both MoCA and MEPT. After controlling for demographic variables, both Age and Number of Languages significantly predicted performance. These findings underscore the importance of age and language experience in cognitive and practical problem-solving functioning, contributing to a better understanding of cognitive ageing in Malaysia.

Keywords: Everyday Problems Test; Older adults; language performance; Cognitive performance; decision making.

ABSTRAK

Rizab kognitif dalam keupayaan menyelesaikan masalah dan membuat keputusan harian dipengaruhi oleh faktor demografi dan pengalaman. Rizab kognitif sepatutnya kekal stabil sepanjang hayat seseorang; walau bagaimanapun, proses penuaan sering disertai dengan kemerosotan kognitif bagi sesetengah individu. Hal ini menguatkan keperluan untuk mengenal pasti faktor-faktor yang mungkin membantu memelihara rizab kognitif di kemudian hari. Landskap pelbagai bahasa Malaysia menyediakan konteks yang unik untuk mengkaji sama ada pendedahan sepanjang hayat kepada pelbagai bahasa menyumbang kepada ketahanan kognitif dalam kalangan warga emas. Oleh yang demikian, kajian ini menyelidik sama ada kebolehan berinteraksi dalam pelbagai bahasa boleh menyumbang kepada daya tahan kognitif dalam kalangan warga emas Malaysia yang menyertai Program MyAgeWell. Seramai 352 orang peserta yang berumur 60 tahun ke atas telah melengkapkan penilaian kognisi global, penyelesaian masalah fungsian harian, dan tugasan membuat keputusan. Fungsi kognitif diukur menggunakan Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), manakala pemprosesan kognitif harian dan tingkah laku mereka ketika membuat keputusan dinilai menggunakan Malaysian Everyday Problem Test (MEPT). Umur dan Bilangan Bahasa yang dituturkan dijadikan peramal utama, manakala Jantina, Bangsa, dan Agama dikategorikan sebagai pemboleh ubah kawalan. Analisis General Linear Model (GLM) telah dijalankan untuk mengkaji hubungan antara umur, bilangan bahasa, dan skor MoCA dan MEPT, dengan mengawal faktor demografi. Eta separa kuasa dua (η²p) dilaporkan sebagai ukuran saiz kesan. GLM keseluruhan adalah signifikan bagi kedua-dua MoCA dan MEPT. Selepas mengawal pemboleh ubah demografi, kedua-dua Umur dan Bilangan Bahasa meramalkan prestasi secara signifikan. Penemuan ini menekankan kepentingan umur dan pengalaman bahasa dalam fungsi kognitif dan penyelesaian masalah praktikal. Dapatan ini menyumbang kepada pemahaman yang lebih baik tentang penuaan kognitif di Malaysia.

Kata Kunci: Everyday Problems Test; membuat keputusan; prestasi bahasa; prestasi kognitif; warga emas

Keywords

Everyday Problems Test; Older adults; language performance; Cognitive performance; decision making.

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