A new study has revealed a surprising indicator of potential cognitive decline: the speed at which you speak. Researchers at the University of Toronto and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in Canada have found that changes in talking speed could be a more significant sign of brain health than previously thought, even more so than occasional word-finding difficulties.
The study, published in Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition, involved 125 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 90 who underwent a series of cognitive tests. Participants engaged in a picture-naming game, described complex images, and completed standard assessments for mental abilities that typically decline with age.
While many older adults may worry about pausing to find the right word, the study suggests this might be a normal part of aging. Instead, it’s the overall slowing of speech, even without pauses, that could be a more critical indicator of changes in brain health.
Dr. Jed Meltzer, co-author of the study, explained, “Our results indicate that changes in general talking speed may reflect changes in the brain. 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.”
Although the study only established a link between talking speed and brain health, not a causal relationship, the findings have significant implications for early detection and intervention.
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The Baycrest Centre highlighted the potential for these results to “support the development of tools to detect cognitive decline as early as possible, allowing clinicians to prescribe interventions to help patients maintain or even improve their brain health as they age.”
Dementia: A Growing Concern
With dementia rates projected to rise significantly in the coming years, early detection is crucial. Currently, around 153 million is expected to have dementia by 2050 across the world.
Common symptoms of dementia include:
- Memory loss
- Difficulty with thinking and language
- Changes in mood and behaviour
- Difficulty with daily activities
If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it’s essential to seek medical advice.
This new research offers a potential breakthrough in dementia detection, emphasizing the importance of monitoring changes in speech patterns as we age. By recognizing early warning signs, individuals and healthcare professionals can take proactive steps to support brain health and potentially slow the progression of cognitive decline.
