Speech often betrays us in the most inopportune moments: we search for a word, knowing exactly what we want to say, but are unable to find this elusive term.

This experience, known as “ethology,” is a common symptom of aging but, in some cases, can also signal the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, long before more obvious signs appear.

Tracking brain health through speech

Recently, a fascinating analysis emerged from the research rooms of the University of Toronto.

Contrary to popular belief, they found that speaking speed is more of a diagnosis of neurological health than the inability to retrieve words.

Studying a group of 125 adults – aged 18 to 85 – the researchers asked them to describe a scene in as much detail as possible.

The responses were recorded and then reviewed by artificial intelligence software that measured their speaking speed, the length of their pauses and the diversity of their vocabulary.

In addition, all participants took a series of tests aimed at assessing their concentration, thinking speed and task management skills.

Notably, the researchers discovered a correlation between a participant’s daily speaking rate and age-related cognitive decline in these “executive” skills, indicating a broader decline than just difficulty finding the right word.

A new lens for analysis

Of particular note is the introduction of a unique “picture-word interference task”. This method requires participants to first identify an object and then ask their mouth to form the words.

By further exploring the rich tapestry of cognitive and linguistic changes that accompany age, the study demonstrated a correlation between a person’s abilities natural speech speed and their ability to name pictures quickly.

However, to paint a more accurate picture of our verbal adaptability, it would be beneficial to combine the results of picture naming tests with “verbal fluency tasks” that require participants to produce as many words as possible in a short period of time. of time from a given category. or starting with a specific letter.

Such tasks are better indicators of everyday conversations because they involve active retrieval and production of words from the individual’s vocabulary.

Speech and cognitive decline

Verbal fluency tasks have another crucial function: they serve as markers of cognitive health.

Age-related changes in word retrieval ability are completely normal, but disproportionate difficulty on these tests can be an early sign of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

To take their research even further, the Toronto team might consider assessing participants’ personal experiences with word-finding difficulties in addition to objective measures such as pauses in speech.

These personal accounts could provide additional perspective on the cognitive processes at play.

Looking to the future

This study is a big step forward and reveals that our cognitive health can be assessed not only by what we say, but also by how quickly we say it.

By exploiting our constantly evolving nature language treatment technologies to detect changes in speech rate, we can identify people at risk before more serious symptoms appear.

Monitoring brain health through speech

The study highlights the growing importance of speech as a marker for understanding how the brain changes with age.

Unlike traditional cognitive tests that rely on deliberate responses, natural speech offers an organic reflection of underlying cognitive processes.

Researchers found that every day speech patterns – such as speed of delivery, length of pauses, and diversity of vocabulary – provide valuable clues about a person’s executive functioning and processing ability.

What makes speech analysis particularly interesting is its accessibility, because conversations are part of everyday life. Speech analysis is therefore an inexpensive and non-invasive method for monitoring brain health.

This approach not only reduces barriers to early detection, but also opens the door to widespread use in community health settings.

Wider implications of the study

By leveraging speech, healthcare providers can identify early signs of cognitive decline in aging populations without the need for specialized equipment.

Additionally, speech-based assessments can potentially complement other diagnostic tools. When combined with imaging techniques or genetic testing, they can provide a more complete picture of an individual’s cognitive trajectory.

This multifaceted approach ensures a more personalized understanding of aging and neurological health and could lay the foundation for proactive care strategies in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

The study is published in the journal Taylor and Francis online.

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