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Assessing Language Impairments Across the Neurodegeneration Continuum: Diagnostic Utility of the BECLA-TR in MCI and
Samet Tosun1, Fenise Selin Karali1, Elif İkbal Eskioğlu1,2
1Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Biruni University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Background:
As the global population ages, the prevalence of major neurocognitive disorders (MND), particularly Alzheimer disease (AD), continues to rise. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is considered a prodromal stage of AD, yet differentiating MCI from early-stage AD remains a clinical challenge, especially regarding language impairments.
Objective:
This study aimed to examine the diagnostic utility of the Turkish adaptation of the Batterie d'Évaluation Cognitive du Langage (BECLA-Tr) and to determine its effectiveness as one of the first multidimensional language assessments standardized for Turkish speakers.
Methods:
Ninety participants (30 MCI, 30 AD, and 30 healthy controls) completed the BECLA-Tr in addition to general cognitive and language screening tests. The BECLA-Tr assesses 4 domains: recognition of spoken and written words, semantic processing, spoken production, and written language.
Results:
AD participants showed significant impairments across nearly all BECLA-Tr domains compared with both MCI and controls. MCI participants exhibited selective deficits in semantic processing while maintaining comparable performance to controls in spoken and written production.
Conclusion:
The BECLA-Tr demonstrated strong diagnostic sensitivity for detecting language impairments across the neurodegeneration continuum, supporting its clinical use for early detection and intervention in MCI and AD.
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