Saying ‘um’ and other language changes identified as earliest warning signs of dementia
Subtle changes in the way we speak could be among the earliest warning signs of dementia, researchers have warned.
Nearly one million people in the UK are living with dementia, a degenerative illness which gradually damages a person’s memory, thinking skills and behaviour.
Common symptoms include forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating on everyday tasks, confusion about times and places, and changes to mood.
But it can also affect speech, making it harder for people to find the right words to say or even follow conversations.
Researchers now believe this may be an important tool in identifying people who could be in the earliest stages of dementia and in particular, Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for 40 per cent of cases.
A review of studies on speech and language found that patterns in the way people speak – including the words they use and how they structure sentences – could be linked to the condition.
Dr Tim Beanland, head of knowledge and learning at the Alzheimer’s Society, says ‘language is one of the most complex functions the brain performs’.
He told The Telegraph: ‘A conversation – holding the other person’s words in mind and converting them into meaning – relies on the coordination of a network of different areas of the brain.’
Subtle changes in the way we speak could be among the earliest warning signs of dementia, researchers have warned
Experts believe that when the brain begins to lose the ability to manage these processes, early symptoms of Alzheimer’s can start to emerge.
One possible early sign of dementia could be an increased reliance on filler words such as ‘uh’, ‘erm’ and ‘ah’ while trying to complete a sentence.
While in most cases, hesitation is normal and reflects a struggle to find the right word, experts say that when these pauses become more frequent over time they could point to underlying cognitive changes – and potentially be a sign of dementia.
Dr Tim Beanland explained that natural changes in the brain occur as we age, comparing the process to going from a three-lane motorway to a two-lane motorway.
‘Information still gets through, but it’s slower,’ he said.
This can make it harder to retrieve words quickly, leading people to rely more heavily on placeholder sounds such as ‘uh’ or ‘erm’ while searching for the right phrase.
Research from the University of Toronto has also suggested that frequent use of filler words may reflect problems with executive function – the mental processes responsible for receiving information, as well as understanding it and responding.
Dr Emer MacSweeney, a consultant neuroradiologist and chief executive of a clinic conducting Alzheimer’s trial, said: ‘In people with early Alzheimer’s disease, it’s not just the occasional hesitation, but a pattern that becomes more obvious over time.’
Dr MacSweeney also warned that a noticeable slowing of speech could be a ‘worrying sign’ of cognitive decline.
In the same study by the University of Toronto, it was also found that the speed of speech may be more of an indicator of brain health in older people.
Researchers analysed 125 adults aged between 18 and 85 and asked participants to analyse images of everyday objects while listening to distracting words, allowing scientists to assess how quickly and effectively they could retrieve the correct terms under pressure.
The study also examined speech patterns, including how often participants paused during sentences.
Researchers found that those who spoke more fluently and quickly in conversations tended to perform better in cognitive tests, suggesting that the speed of speech may be linked to brain function.
Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP.
Those who pause more frequently while speaking could also face a higher risk of dementia, with researchers suggesting that increased hesitation may be a sign of slower processing speeds in the brain.
Dr MacSweeney said: ‘Pausing more, and for longer mid-sentence, is strongly linked to the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. People will seem more hesitant overall, with their speech becoming less fluid.’
Furthermore, researchers have also found that using fewer connective words in conversation could be linked to the early stages of dementia.
Although people with Alzheimer’s are often still able to form grammatically correct sentences, studies suggest they may begin simplifying their language.
This can mean using fewer linking words such as ‘because’ and ‘although’, which help connect different parts of a sentence.
Instead of saying, ‘I stayed home because I was feeling tired after work,’ someone might say, ‘I stayed home. I was tired after work.’
The findings come as dementia cases continue to rise in the UK, with nearly one million Britons currently affected – a figure projected to reach 1.4 million by 2040.
The Daily Mail and Alzheimer’s Society have partnered in a drive to beat dementia, which claims 76,000 lives each year and is the UK’s biggest killer.
The Defeating Dementia campaign aims to raise awareness of the disease, in an effort to increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care.
While the condition has no cure, early diagnosis can help slow progression and manage symptoms, which include memory loss, difficulty concentrating, mood changes and problems following conversations.
Growing evidence suggests changes in vision, hearing, taste, touch and balance can appear years before classic symptoms.
Experts have also warned that problems with spatial awareness, such as standing too close to others, may emerge up to 20 years earlier.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, dementia costs the UK £42 billion a year, with families shouldering much of the burden. That figure is expected to rise to £90 billion within 15 years.
