The Cognitive Benefits of Learning Native Language and Bilingualism in a Minority Group

Objective: Studying the Arvanites a bilingual population in Greece that speak Arvanitika a dialect of Albanian language still spoken in vast areas of Greece is classified as minority language and in risk of extinction as endangered. The study aim to show the possible benefit in cognitive and cognitive related dysfunction of native speakers of Arvanitika from bilingualism [1]. Method: This is a population cohort study including bilingual speakers without exclusion criteria, sampling in the areas where Arvanite population traditionally lived achieving a sample number statistically important of 400 responders between 2018 2022 in a population unofficially ranging from 200000-16000000 or 15% of population and the comparable the same number of monolingual Greek speaker with similar background. Conclusion: A statistically analysis of data indicating benefit of bilingualism and importance of acquiring “mother linguae” in minority population group and how this influence further cognitive functions, capability for further learning including lower incidence of cognitive disorders.


Background
Studying the Arvanites a bilingual population in Greece that speak Arvanitika a dialect of Albanian language [2] still spoken in vast areas of Greece [1] is classified as minority language and in risk of extinction as endangered [3]. The study aim to show the possible benefit in cognitive and cognitive related dysfunction of native speakers of Arvanitika from bilingualism [1] also the ability for further learning and acquisition of other languages.
It is well known the effect of bilingualism on cognitive function by several studies which have demonstrated a better performance of bilingual while Neuroimaging studies concluded a greater volume of frontal lobe and better structural integrity [4]. This might be the consequence of long term necessity to switch between the languages.
The benefit of speaking the "mother linguae" it is been demonstrated that is cohort related , the subject that appear old in bilingualism have more cognitive benefits. Previous studies have demonstrated that bilingual speakers have a postponement in cognitive impairment and dementia for e period to maximum of 5 years compare with speakers of one language [5].

Method
This is a population study including bilingual speakers without exclusion criteria, sampling in the areas where Arvanite population traditionally lived achieving a sample number statistically important of 400 responders between 2018 -2022 in a population unofficially ranging from 200000 -16000000 or 15% of population [1].
To be eligible, potential participants have to be 65 years or older with no previous diagnosis of dementia, they should identify as Arvanites or Greek, bilingual in Arvanitika and Greek or otherwise.
The purpose of the study would be in comparing cognitive performance in Greek speaking only and Arvanitika-Greek bilinguals aiming the comparable the same number of monolingual Greek speaker with similar background.
There is been a critical view of studies performed and the influence of many factors including the right methodology of studying a population group, cognitive tests used for screening, statistical analysis, environment factors, education, social economic status, cultural and political factors therefore study aim to address to this issue.

Conclusion
A statistically analysis of data indicating the possible benefits of bilingualism and importance of acquiring "mother language " in this minority population group and how this would influence further cognitive functions, capability for further learning including lower incidence of cognitive disorders [5,9,10]. The TEA is the only test of attention that gives a broad overview by breaking attention down into theoretically distinct factors, which can then be used as the basis of a detailed analysis of an individual's cognitive resources. These test is being used recently to many bilingual studies, interesting part of it is namely diagnosing dementia in non-dominant language in linguistic minorities [4,6].

Bibliography
Considering practical difficulties of individual survey, the advertising and online option was taken in consideration.
These is ongoing study protocol.