The Anticipatory Proportion as an Indicator of Language Impairment in Early-Stage Cognitive Disorder in the Elderly

Background: The anticipatory proportion (AP), the ratio between perseverative and anticipatory speech errors, is reduced in patients with brain injury. However, it is unknown whether the AP is also reduced in elderly speakers with cognitive impairment. Methods: 20 elderly speakers with a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 25-27 and 20 elderly speakers with an MMSE score of 28-30 were assessed using a tongue-twister-based speech test, the Regensburg Word Fluency Test (RWT) and an object naming test. Results: The AP in the group of speakers with an MMSE score of 25-27 was significantly lower. Accordingly, the AP and scores in the RWT and the object naming test were higher in persons with an MMSE score of 28-30. Conclusion: Language alterations in mild cognitive dysfunction are detectable with the AP. Further longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the predictive value of the AP.