M. (Maria) Polychronidou

Language Change in Healthy Aging: Cognitive Decline and Compensatory Processing in Elderly Adults

Maria Polychronidou^1,2, Petra Hendriks¹, Simone Sprenger¹, Robert Hartsuiker²

University of Groningen¹, Ghent University²

In our rapidly aging global population, it is increasingly important to grasp the intricate relationship between aging, cognitive functions, and language. Declines in cognitive abilities, particularly in working memory and cognitive control, have been associated with language deficits. However, an intriguing aspect of older adults is their remarkable ability to compensate for cognitive decline by drawing upon their extensive linguistic knowledge.

Our research project comprises four studies integrating neurophysiological (EEG, eye-tracking) and behavioral measures. The primary objective is to investigate how aging influences language and cognition in Dutch native speakers aged 40 to 80. We center our investigation on idioms, such as the Dutch expression "door de mand vallen" (literally "to fall through the basket" vs. figuratively "to get caught"). The decoding of idioms requires the suppression of their literal meanings, highlighting the role of cognitive control. Notably, idioms, reaching their knowledge peak in the second half of life, serve as an ideal context for unraveling the dynamic interplay between general cognitive processes and specific linguistic mechanisms.

The rapid aging of global populations underscores the need for this investigation, prompting a concerted effort to address knowledge gaps surrounding the complex relationship between cognitive and linguistic changes in older individuals. By conducting experiments with Dutch native speakers across a wide age range, we aim to delineate the impact of aging on linguistic processing. These studies seek to offer comprehensive insights into whether cognitive decline aligns with linguistic abilities, thereby contributing to a detailed understanding of the intricacies of the aging process.