Speech in Alzheimer's Disease: Can Temporal and Acoustic Parameters Discriminate Dementia?

Abstract

Aims: The study explores how speech measures may be linked to language profiles in participants with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and how these profiles could distinguish AD from changes associated with normal aging. Methods: We analysed simple sentences spoken by older adults with and without AD. Spectrographic analysis of temporal and acoustic characteristics was carried out using the Praat software. Results: We found that measures of speech, such as variations in the percentage of voice breaks, number of periods of voice, number of voice breaks, shimmer (amplitude perturbation quotient), and noise-to-harmonics ratio, characterise people with AD with an accuracy of 84.8%. Discussion: These measures offer a sensitive method of assessing spontaneous speech output in AD, and they discriminate well between people with AD and healthy older adults. This method of evaluation is a promising tool for AD diagnosis and prognosis, and it could be used as a dependent measure in clinical trials.

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): DEM

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

Journal ID (doi): 10.1159/issn.1420-8008

Title: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders

Publisher: S. Karger AG

ISSN (Print): 1420-8008

ISSN (Electronic): 1421-9824

Publication date Subscription-year: 2014

Publication date (Print): June 2014

Publication date (Electronic): 30 January 2014

Volume: 37

Issue: 5-6

Pages: 327-334

Affiliations

^aInstitute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, and ^bUniversity of Murcia, Murcia, Spain

Author notes

*Juan J.G. Meilán, Department of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience of Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, C/ Pintor Fernando Gallego, 1, ES-37007 Salamanca (Spain), E-Mail [e-mail]

Article

Publisher ID: 356726 Other ID: Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2014;37:327-334

DOI: 10.1159/000356726

PubMed ID: 24481220

Copyright statement: © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

License:

Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.

Page count

Tables: 2, Pages: 8

Product

Self URI (application/pdf): https://www.karger.com/Article/Pdf/356726

Self URI (text/html): https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/356726

Self URI (journal page): https://www.karger.com/SubjectArea/Neurology-and-Neuroscience

Categories

Subject: Original Research Article