Cited by 40Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchNeurobiology of Language and BilingualismLanguage Development and Disorders

Language changes in Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review of verb processing

Williams, Eric, McAuliffe, Megan, Theys, Catherine·2021·Brain and Language

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) results in language impairments and higher-level communication problems. Research into the language of people with AD (pwAD) has mainly focused on nouns; however, improved understanding of verb processing by pwAD could improve diagnostic assessments and communicative interventions. This systematic review synthesizes findings of AD's effects on verbs from single-word, sentence, and discourse tasks. Review of 57 studies revealed that pwAD were less accurate than controls on single-word tasks and less accurate with verbs than nouns on these tasks. They had difficulty comprehending sentences featuring multiple verbs or verbs with reversible thematic roles. Discourse production by pwAD was marked by vagueness, including declines in total output and propositional content and a preference for generic verbs and simple syntax. Few studies examining sentence production or discourse comprehension were found. Future research should address relationships between long-term memory and language preservation as well as verb use in discourse.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.bandl.2021.105041

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  • Speech and language assessments are useful for diagnosing aphasic syndromes and for characterizing other neurodegenerative disorders.

    “In the field of neurodegeneration, speech and language assessments are useful for diagnosing aphasic syndromes and for characterizing other disorders.”
  • Distinct linguistic deficits have been observed in Alzheimer's disease, including lexico-semantic impairment, simplified syntax and altered figurative language processing.

    “Distinct deficits have been observed in Alzheimer's disease (lexico-semantic impairment, 2,29 simplified syntax, 13 altered figurative language processing 16 )”

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Authors
Williams, E., McAuliffe, M., & Theys, C.
Affiliations
University of Canterbury (NZ)
Venue
Brain and Language
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-12
Volume
223
Pages
105041
ISSN
0093-934X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3208760900
Cited by
40
References
95
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 11
FWCI
1.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Brain and Language (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Canterbury
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
Keywords
Alzheimer's disease, verb processing, language impairment, verb comprehension, sentence comprehension, discourse production, thematic roles, long-term memory, language preservation
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Humans, Language, Language Disorders, Language Tests, Semantics

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