From using substitute words to switching between languages – five other ways your speech can signal dementia

Hand me the… uh, whatchamacallit?

We’ve all been there – struggling to find the right word.

A senior woman comforts her husband.

Slow speech could be a key indicator of dementia

This common lapse, known as “lethologica,” tends to happen more often as we age.

Having word-finding difficulties isn’t just frustrating – it can also be an early sign of brain changes linked to the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s – the most common form of dementia – long before other symptoms appear.

However, a recent University of Toronto study suggests that speech speed, not just trouble finding words, could be a better indicator of brain health in older adults.

Their study involved using artificial intelligence software to analyse the language abilities of 125 health volunteers aged 18 to 90.

Each participant was asked to describe pictures of everyday objects while listening to an audio clip

The clip repeated a word related to the object’s meaning, making it harder to recall the name or find a similar-sounding word.

Participants also took standard tests measuring focus, thinking speed, and problem-solving.

They found that word-finding abilities got worse naturally with age, but were not linked to cognitive decline, a precursor for dementia.

But talking slowly was associated with weaker brain functions, findings, published in Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition, showed.

“Our results indicate that changes in general talking speed may reflect changes in the brain,” study co-author Dr Jed Meltzer said.

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“This suggests that talking speed should be tested as part of standard cognitive assessments to help clinicians detect cognitive decline faster and help older adults support their brain health as they age,” he added.

A seperate study, published earlier this month, suggested that people who love a lie-in are at greater risk of dementia.

Dangerous sleep habit

Clocking in enough hours of shut-eye is important for long-term health, scientists at the University of Warwick said.

They cited recent research which urged adults to aim for roughly seven hours of sleep each night.

But going above or below this sleep sweet spot could put people at risk of worrying health issues, researchers warned.

People who sleep longer than seven hours may be more likely to suffer cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer’s, they found.

The study comes after researchers warned that your weekend sleep patterns could be hampering your immune system – making it harder to shift that spring bug.