Spatial language processing in early AD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Spatial language processing in early Alzheimer's disease
IRAS ID
189851
Contact name
Ioanna Markostamou
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
REN University of East Anglia
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
One of the earliest manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is spatial disorientation. The patterns of deterioration in spatial abilities are well established in AD patients, however, exceptionally little is known regarding their ability to communicate spatial information with verbal means (e.g., to describe where objects are located). Based on previous neuropsychological work, we developed four novel measures particularly designed to assess spatial language processing, and more specifically, spatial verbal fluency, spatial naming, spatial verbal memory, and verbal comprehension in spatial perspective taking. These novel tasks have already been successfully administered to a large sample of healthy adults between 45 and 85 years of age. In the present study, individuals with mild AD will be recruited via Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and Join Dementia Research NHS platform, and their abilities in spatial language processing will be assessed using these novel tasks in one single session lasting approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Their performance will then be directly compared with the performance of an age- and gender-matched control group of healthy adults from the data already collected. Results will help us identify possible impairments in different aspects of spatial language processing in AD. This in turn may lead to the identification of markers of typical and atypical ageing that could be used in clinical settings for earlier and more accurate diagnosis of AD and also for optimum intervention designs. Findings will be disseminated at scientific conferences and academic journals, as well as to relevant charitable organisations and the broader community when applicable.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0080
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion