A recent study by researchers at the University of Toronto has challenged the long-held assumption that language difficulties in older adults are due to a decline in word retrieval from memory. Instead, the study suggests that the speed of speech may be the underlying factor.
In the study, 125 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 90 were asked to describe an image in detail. The recordings were then analyzed using artificial intelligence to extract characteristics such as the pace between words and the variety of words used by each individual.
The researchers found that a general slowdown in processing speed was linked to age-related decline in cognitive abilities, including concentration, speed of thought, and planning tasks. They also discovered that the natural speech rate of adults was related to their ability to name objects and retrieve words from memory.
This finding suggests that cognitive and linguistic changes may be underlying factors rather than a specific problem with word retrieval. Verbal fluency tasks, which involve naming as many words as possible within a certain time frame, were found to be useful in understanding the “tip of the tongue” phenomenon.
The “tip of the tongue” refers to the temporary inability to retrieve a word from memory despite partial recall and the feeling that one knows the word. The study’s findings have implications for the development of new research methods and technologies that can help identify cognitive decline before it becomes apparent.
Future studies will focus on using language processing technologies to analyze past recordings, such as those of former US President Ronald Reagan, to detect subtle changes in speech patterns indicative of cognitive health. This approach has the potential to provide valuable clues about cognitive health and alert individuals to potential issues before they become severe.
Source: https://unionrayo.com/us/scientists-discovering-risk-cognitive-impairment