Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
06:48
Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: June 25, 2019
Inter-individual variability in discourse informativeness in elderly populations
Aurélie Pistono1,2, Jérémie Pariente1,3, Catherine Bézy3
1a Toulouse NeuroImaging Centre , Toulouse University, Inserm, UPS , Toulouse , France.
Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics
|April 8, 2017
Summary
This study examined discourse variability in healthy older adults to inform clinical tools for neurodegenerative diseases. Findings reveal distinct speaker profiles, with one group showing poorer linguistic performance, blurring the line between normal aging and pathology.
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Neuropsychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Discourse production analysis is increasingly used for neurodegenerative diseases.
- Understanding normal discourse variability in healthy elderly populations is crucial for clinical application.
- Macrolinguistic features of discourse are key indicators of cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate macrolinguistic variability in discourse among cognitively unimpaired older adults.
- To identify distinct speaker profiles based on discourse informativeness.
- To explore the relationship between these profiles and socio-demographic or linguistic factors.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 123 participants aged 55-84.
- Conducted cluster analysis on discourse macrolinguistic features.
- Characterized clusters based on socio-demographics and linguistic performance (fluency, naming, syntax, spelling).
Main Results:
- Identified four distinct clusters of discourse informativeness.
- No significant socio-demographic features differentiated the clusters.
- The 'off topic' cluster exhibited lower performance on linguistic tasks compared to other clusters.
Conclusions:
- Inter-individual variability in discourse exists within healthy aging populations.
- The 'off topic' discourse profile may indicate a need to re-evaluate the boundary between normal cognitive aging and pathology.
- Macrolinguistic analysis offers insights into subtle cognitive changes in aging individuals.
Related Concept Videos
02:12Relationship Formation
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
02:55Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who are...
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
01:26Aging
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...