Breakdown of cross-modal function in dementia.
To evaluate the possibility that specific language abnormalities in dementia are related to impaired cross-modal ability, the authors studied patients with Alzheimer's disease (which is characterized by a generalized language breakdown or aphasia) and patients with Parkinson's disease and dementia (a disorder associated more with selective deficits in naming than with aphasia). Both groups were initially equated for severity of dementia. Compared with nondemented patients with Parkinson's disease and age-equivalent healthy controls, patients with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease with dementia showed significant deficits in cross-modal ability. Moreover, the cross-modal deficits were significantly associated with object-naming ability. Results support the concept that language capacity and cross-modal functions are interrelated.
Freedman
M
M
Behavioural Neurology Program, Baycrest Centre For Geriatric Care, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Oscar-Berman
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D000849:Anomia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001037:Aphasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011340:Problem Solving; D013236:Stereognosis