Related Experiment Videos
Language dysfunction in early- and late-onset possible Alzheimer's disease
O A Selnes1, K Carson, B Rovner
1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Neurology
|July 1, 1988
Summary
Early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) does not disproportionately affect language compared to late-onset AD. This study found no significant language differences between early- and late-onset Alzheimer's disease groups.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
- A hypothesis suggests early-onset AD (symptoms before age 65) disproportionately impacts language functions compared to late-onset AD (symptoms at age 65 or later).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether language dysfunction is a distinguishing feature of early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
- To compare language deficits in patients with early-onset AD versus late-onset AD.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 133 patients with possible AD was assessed.
- Patients were divided into two groups: early-onset (n=61) and late-onset (n=72).
- Standardized tests were used to evaluate language function, controlling for attention and concentration deficits.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in the severity of language dysfunction were found between the early-onset and late-onset AD groups.
- These findings remained consistent even after accounting for attention and concentration deficits, which were more pronounced in the early-onset group.
- Overall dementia severity, measured by the Mini-Mental State Exam, was comparable between groups.
Conclusions:
- The hypothesis that early-onset Alzheimer's disease disproportionately affects language is not supported by this study.
- Previous reports of language differences may be attributed to smaller sample sizes and non-standardized testing methodologies.
- Language dysfunction severity is similar in early- and late-onset Alzheimer's disease.