Executive Function and Language Production Abilities in Individuals with Probable Alzheimer's Disease

Sandra L. Schneider
Jenna M. Lutz
Heather Jacobson

Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences
The Ohio State University
Columbus OH

Contact Information

Sandra L. Schneider, Ph.D.
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences
The Ohio State University
110 Pressey Hall
1070 Carmack Road
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: (614) 292-5664
Fax: (614) 292-7504
Email: schneider.291@osu.edu

ABSTRACT

Probable Alzheimer's Disease (PAD) is a progressive degenerative neurological disorder involving memory loss, a decline in the ability to perform routine tasks, disorientation, difficulty learning new information, and impaired language skills.

This study evaluated executive function and oral and written language production abilities in individuals with mild to moderate PAD, via a control vs. experimental model. Subjects were given a battery of standardized language and executive function assessments. Additionally, oral and written language production abilities were examined for specific linguistic and content/efficiency features and compared utilizing similar story re-telling tasks.

Results indicated all individuals with PAD showed some difficulty with problem solving, critical thinking and memory skills. Tasks that measured speed and accuracy of responses were significantly different from the matched control group.

Analysis of general language production abilities found individuals with PAD consistently produced fewer content information units (CIUs) than matched control participants. Examination of linguistic features found the mean length of utterance (MLU) to be shorter and the use of complex sentences to be less for all individuals with PAD on oral and written language tasks. Lastly, for both groups, the percent of grammatical sentence usage was better on the written than the oral language tasks.

These findings are part of an ongoing longitudinal study measuring executive function and language production abilities in individuals with PAD.