Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: June 25, 2019
The use of profanity during letter fluency tasks in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease
John M Ringman1, Eunice Kwon, Deborah L Flores
1UCLA Department of Neurology, Easton Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7226, USA. jringman@mednet.ucla.edu
Objective:
To assess whether the production of profanity during letter fluency testing distinguishes frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer disease (AD) patients.
Background:
Alterations in language and social behavior typify FTD spectrum disorders. Nonetheless, in can be difficult to distinguish pathologically defined frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) from AD clinically. Assessing verbal fluency by having patients generate words beginning with specific letters in a given period of time can yield diverse information of diagnostic use.
Method:
Words produced during FAS letter fluency testing were reviewed, and instances of the use of "f*ck," "*ss," and "sh*t" and other words felt to be inappropriate were sought. The frequency of these words was compared between clinically diagnosed FTD and AD patients using χ(2) tests.
Results:
We found that 6/32 (18.8%) patients with FTD generated the word "f*ck" during the "F" trial as opposed to none of 38 patients with AD (P=0.007). Patients who said "f*ck" had diagnoses of either behavioral variant FTD (3/15), progressive nonfluent aphasia (2/8), or semantic dementia (1/3).
Conclusions:
Though the specific neuropathology in these cases is uncertain, generation of "f*ck" during letter fluency testing seems to have use in differentiating FTD from AD.
More Related Videos
11:01Examining the Characteristics of Episodic Memory using Event-related Potentials in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: August 30, 2011
06:46Automated, Long-term Behavioral Assay for Cognitive Functions in Multiple Genetic Models of Alzheimer's Disease, Using IntelliCage
Published on: August 4, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Dementia l: Introduction
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...