Diagnostic and prognostic role of semantic processing in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. (13th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Venneri, Annalena; Jahn-Carta, Caroline; Marco, Matteo De; Quaranta, Davide; Marra, Camillo
• Is Part Of: Biomarkers in medicine. Volume 12:Number 6(2018)
• Page Start: 637
• Page End: 651
• Publication Date: 2018-06-13
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease -- Category Fluency task -- linguistic attainment -- mild cognitive impairment -- neuropsychological markers -- semantic memory; Biochemical markers -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2017-0324
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-0363

Abstract

Relatively spared during most of the timeline of normal aging, semantic memory shows a subtle yet measurable decline even during the pre-clinical stage of Alzheimer's disease. This decline is thought to reflect early neurofibrillary changes and impairment is detectable using tests of language relying on lexical-semantic abilities. A promising approach is the characterization of semantic parameters such as typicality and age of acquisition of words, and propositional density from verbal output. Seminal research like the Nun Study or the analysis of the linguistic decline of famous writers and politicians later diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease supports the early diagnostic value of semantic processing and semantic memory. Moreover, measures of these skills may play an important role for the prognosis of patients with mild cognitive impairment.