Beware of this Language Trait, It Signals Cognitive Decline

The Link Between Word-Finding Difficulty and Cognitive Decline

Word-finding difficulty (WFD) is a common cognitive disorder in aging individuals.
It affects both natural language communication and controlled laboratory tests.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that language holds the key to identifying cognitive decline symptoms.

Contrary to popular belief, the main issue is not forgetting words, but rather the speed at which word recognition and formulation processes take place.
This phenomenon is also known as “word form retrieval breakdown.”

Study on Processing Speed and Cognitive Decline

Researchers conducted a study involving 125 healthy adults aged 18 to 85.
Participants were tasked with various activities, including object recognition on a screen with added auditory interference.
The study concluded that processing speed plays a crucial role, and verbal reaction time can serve as an important clinical measure.

Theories on Cognitive Decline Measurement

One prevalent theory regarding cognitive decline focuses on the decrease in processing speed as individuals age.
This slowdown is more pronounced and impairing when failures occur due to a lack of simultaneity or within a limited timeframe.
Previous observations indicated that age-related slowing is more prominent in non-lexical tasks compared to lexical ones.

Findings in this field suggest that older adults are significantly slower than younger individuals in completing various cognitive tasks, including word production tasks like naming images, answering questions, or reading written words.
They also tend to exhibit more disfluencies, such as filled and unfilled pauses (e.g., “uh” and “um”), in speech and have generally slower language speed.

The Role of Word Retrieval Speed in Early Diagnosis

Verbal fluency tests engage different brain regions associated with language, memory, and executive function.
They can provide insights into which brain areas are affected by cognitive decline.
While this study offers valuable insights for future research, it emphasizes that how we speak, not just what we say, can reveal cognitive changes.

Using natural language processing technology, a form of artificial intelligence applied in medicine, to automatically detect speech rate slowing could serve as an indicator of cognitive health and aid in identifying at-risk individuals before a dementia diagnosis.
This approach suggests potential symptoms for early diagnosis, paving the way for proactive interventions in cognitive health.