Jiao Is an 88-Year-Old Woman Who Is Fluent in Both

Multiple Choice

Jiao is an 88-year-old woman who is fluent in both English and Mandarin.What effect can we expect her bilingualism to have on her cognitive function?

A) Her skill in verbal expression will decline in both languages more quickly than if she knew only one language.
B) The effort of maintaining both languages will stress the language systems of the brain, leading to an increased risk of dementia.
C) Her language skills will be maintained for a significantly longer time than other skills, such as numeracy or short-term memory.
D) The mental exercise of using both languages will provide a "cognitive reserve," delaying the possible onset of dementia.