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Unit 2: Senior Learners and the Concept of Wellbeing

8.0 Further Engagement

If you would like to find out more about language learning and dementia you can listen to the guest lectures of Dr Thomas Bak and Dr Brittany Blankinship, who will provide answers to the following questions: 

i) Does speaking more than one language influence dementia onset?

ii) What happens if a multilingual develops dementia?

iii) Can dementia patients learn a new language?

Thomas Bak Guest Lecture

Brittany Blankinship Guest Lecture


Here is some of Thomas Bak’s research:

  • Alladi, S., Bak, T.H., Duggirala, V., Surampudi, B., Shailaja, M., Shukla, A.K., Chaudhuri, J.R., Kaul, S. (2013) ‘Biligualism delays age of onset of dementia, independent of education and immigration status’, American Academy of Neurology, vol. 81, pp. 1-7.
  • Alladi, S., Bak, T.H. (2014) ‘Can being bilingual affect the onset of dementia?’, Future Neurol. Vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 1-3.
  • Alladi, S., Bak, T.H., Mekala, S., Rajan, A. , Chaudhuri, J.R. , Mioshi, E., Krovvidi, R., Surampudi, B., Duggirala, V., Kaul, S. (2015) ‘Impact of Bilingualism on Cognitive Outcome After Stroke’, Stroke [Online] Available at https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.010418, Accessed 5 February 2025

If you would like to find out more about wellbeing in older age you can read the following articles:

  • Delle Fave, A., Bassi, M., Boccaletti, E.S., Roncaglioni, C., Bernardelli, G., Mari, D. (2018) ‘Promoting Well-Being in Old Age: The Psychological Benefits of Two Training Programs of Adapted Physical Activity’, Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 9, pp. 1-13.
  • Lamers, S.M.A., Westerhof, G.J. ;Bohlmeijer, E.T., Ten Klooster, P.M., Keyes, C.L. M. (2011) ‘Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF)’, Journal of clinical psychology, vol.67, no.1, pp.99-110.
  • Park, D.C. and Reuter-Lorenz, P. (2009) The Adaptive Brain: Aging and Neurocognitive Scaffolding. In: Neuropsychological Review, p. 173-196.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19035823 (Accessed 5 Feb 2025)
  • Raz, N. (2009) Decline and Compensation in Aging Brain and Cognition: Promises and Constraints. In: Neuropsychological Review, p. 411 – 414   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2809780/ (Accessed 5 Feb 2025)

If you want to learn more about how language learning and role play can help learners 'shed their ego' and overcome language learning anxiety, read the article by Bärbel Brash and Sylvia Warnecke " Shedding the ego: drama-based role play and identity in distance language tuition (PDF document230.0 KB) ".