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Microlinguistic aspects of the oral narrative in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2010

Juliana Onofre de Lira ,
Karin Zazo Ortiz ,
Aline Carvalho Campanha ,
Paulo Henrique Ferreira Bertolucci  and
Thaís Soares Cianciarullo Minett
Juliana Onofre de Lira*
Affiliation:
Department of Speech Therapy, São Paulo Federal University, Brazil
Karin Zazo Ortiz
Affiliation:
Department of Speech Therapy, São Paulo Federal University, Brazil
Aline Carvalho Campanha
Affiliation:
Department of Speech Therapy, São Paulo Federal University, Brazil
Paulo Henrique Ferreira Bertolucci
Affiliation:
Section of Behavioral Neurology, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, São Paulo Federal University, Brazil
Thaís Soares Cianciarullo Minett
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine, São Paulo Federal University, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Juliana Onofre de Lira, Department of Speech Therapy, São Paulo Federal University, Euclides Pacheco St, 803/1310. São Paulo, SP, 03321-000, Brazil. Tel/fax: +55 11 3881-7705 Email: julianalira.fono@epm.br.
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Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by memory loss and cognitive impairment. Phonological, syntactic, semantic and discursive aspects of language may also be affected. Analysis of micro- and macrolinguistic abilities of discourse may assist in diagnosing AD. The aim of this study was to identify changes in the discourse (lexical errors and syntactic index) of AD patients.

Methods: 121 elderly subjects narrated a story based on a seven-figure picture description.

Results: Patients with AD presented more word-finding difficulties, revisions and repetitions, and the syntactic index was lower than controls.

Conclusion: Performance in microlinguistics at the lexical and syntactic levels was lower than expected in participants with AD.

Keywords

Alzheimer's diseaselanguagenarrative
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , April 2011 , pp. 404 - 412
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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