The age of acquisition of words produced in a semantic fluency task can reliably differentiate normal from pathological age related cognitive decline.
This study examined differences in the characteristics of words produced by healthy elderly controls and by patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a semantic fluency task (generating words from the categories of animals and fruit). Ninety-six AD patients (MMSE 13-29) and 40 controls matched for age and socio-cultural background completed a semantic fluency task. Length, frequency, typicality and age of acquisition (AoA) values were obtained for each word generated. In comparison with controls, AD patients generated fewer items, and their items were higher in frequency, shorter in length, more typical and earlier in AoA. Discriminant function analysis showed that AoA was the best predictor of group membership (patient/control). The mean AoA of words generated correctly classified 95% of controls and 88% of patients.
Forbes-McKay
Katrina E
KE
School of Applied Social Studies, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
Ellis
Andrew W
AW
Shanks
Michael F
MF
Venneri
Annalena
A
D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012564:Schizophrenic Language; D012660:Semantics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement / Q000379:methods; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*