We May Be Able to Spot Early Dementia Risk With One Simple Analysis, Study Says

Researchers found that speech patterns, like pauses and filler words, are tied to executive function.

BY AVA LEVINSON, NEWS WRITER

Person talking nonsense speech. Poor communication, unclear explanations, not understanding, confused speech, gossip, hard speaking, abusing talk, depression, stress discussion, anxiety. 10 eps

A recent study found that the way we speak can provide information about how our brains function. The results present evidence for a more plausible method for measuring early signs of cognitive disorders, including dementia.

Researchers at Baycrest, the University of Toronto, and York University analyzed details in speech timing, like pauses and filler words, and found they are closely related to executive function, which controls people’s memory and organization skills and their ability to plan and switch between tasks. 

It’s “some of the clearest evidence so far that natural speech patterns reflect core cognitive skills,” according to SciTechDaily. The study demonstrates that brain health can be measured through daily conversation rather than only via formal testing. 

The researchers asked participants to describe images in their own words and then complete tests that measured their executive function. They used AI to analyze speech recordings that tracked how often participants paused, used filler words, or thought about their word choice before speaking. 

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“The message is clear: speech timing is more than just a matter of style, it’s a sensitive indicator of brain health,” said Dr. Jed Meltzer, senior scientist at Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute and senior author on this study, according to SciTechDaily. 

A New Way to Track Executive Function

The study findings are significant because it means there is an alternative method to tracking executive function, while traditional testing can be challenging because it takes time and gives patients the opportunity to improve as they become familiar with the test. Conversely, analyzing patients’ natural speech patterns can be done repeatedly and unobtrusively. 

That makes it a preferred testing method for determining whether patients are experiencing cognitive decline more severely than normal, and could therefore be at a higher risk for dementia.

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