A comparison of verbal and written language in Alzheimer's disease

Few studies have examined characteristics of both verbal and written language of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study used parallel measures (picture description, word fluency, spelling to dictation, and confrontational naming) to compare verbal and written language of individuals with mild AD, moderate AD, and normal controls (14 participants per group). Goals were to determine whether verbal/written differences would be exhibited within groups, and to identify measures sensitive to the effects of mild AD. Results showed that increasing AD severity led to decline in performance for most tasks, but only word fluency differentiated subjects with mild AD from normal controls. Confrontational naming was the only task to identify a difference in verbal and written performance for an AD group but not controls; moderate AD subjects performed worse in written naming. Similar verbal and written performance for the spelling to dictation task indicates impairment to central spelling processes in AD. Learning outcomes: As a result of this activity, participants will be able to: (1) identify verbal and written language measures which are sensitive to the effects of mild AD; (2) describe similarities and differences in verbal and written language performance among mild AD subjects, moderate AD subjects, and controls; (3) describe how findings may inform clinical practice for individuals with mild AD. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.