Slow speech as an indicator of Alzheimer’s and dementia
Speed of speech in particular can be a sign of early Alzheimer’s disease
The early detection of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases is becoming increasingly important. The earlier these diseases can be diagnosed, the better the chances of slowing down the progression of the disease and maintaining the quality of life of those affected. Thanks to today’s possibilities with artificial intelligence (AI), new avenues are opening up in research and diagnostics. A recent study by the University of Toronto shows the potential of speech analysis in this area.
Early warning system for Alzheimer’s: regular speech analysis could identify at-risk patients earlier
Alzheimer’s often begins gradually and remains undetected for a long time. Early signs of Alzheimer’s often manifest themselves through memory impairment, disorientation with regard to time and place as well as changes in mood or behavior (see also: Alzheimer’s symptoms ). Those affected can forget everyday tasks and no longer recognize familiar places. However, a new study shows that the first stages of cognitive decline, as occurs in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, are particularly noticeable in language. However, it is not only the difficulty in finding words that is relevant, but above all the speed of speech. The speech rate of an older person can be a far more reliable indicator of Alzheimer’s disease and general cognitive decline than simply forgetting words, as the team led by Hsi T. Wei showed in their study at the University of Toronto.
Correlation found between speaking speed and cognitive changes in old age
In the study, Hsi T. Wei and his team from the University of Toronto investigated how speech analysis can contribute to the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Their research focused on analyzing word-finding difficulties and their relationship to cognitive impairment.
For the study, 125 healthy adults aged 18 to 90 were asked to describe a detailed picture scene while being phonetically distracted by irrelevant words. This picture-word interference task was gamified to increase participant engagement and achieve more accurate results. Reaction time and word-finding accuracy were used as key measures.
The researchers then used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the recordings and document features such as speaking rate, length of pauses between words and the variety of vocabulary used. In addition, the participants completed a series of standard tests that assessed their ability to concentrate, speed of thought, planning and execution skills. This showed that the poorer performance of the older participants was mainly associated with a slower speaking speed and not with the actual word-finding difficulties.
The speed with which the older participants were able to name the picture scenes correlated strongly with their speaking speed. The results suggest that a slowdown in cognitive processing ability is due to broader cognitive changes in old age rather than the specific difficulties in word retrieval.
Key findings of the study, practical implications and future application
The results of the study are clear: the older participants showed slower and less precise word retrieval. In particular, processing speed proved to be the best predictor of spontaneous word-finding difficulties and decline in executive functions. These results support the processing speed theory as the main cause of age-related word-finding difficulties. In addition, the older adults had greater difficulty suppressing irrelevant information, which also supports the inhibition deficit hypothesis.
The findings from this study could have far-reaching implications for clinical practice. Regular speech analysis could be used to identify patients at risk at an early stage and treat them accordingly. This could not only have a positive impact on the course of the disease, but also significantly improve the quality of life of those affected. In addition, speech analysis could be used as a non-invasive, cost-effective screening tool in general medical practice to better detect early signs of cognitive impairment, the researchers say.
Source:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13825585.2024.2315774
