Scientists look for writing examples for new Alzheimers study
Saturday 27 March 2010
Scientists are asking people with and without Alzheimer’s disease to submit examples of their writing for a study funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) that aims to identify changes in the use of language that can occur with the condition.
Teaming up with researchers at the long-running Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing (OPTIMA) – a large cohort study also funded by the MRC – the scientists will now be able to include writing samples from many more people, with and without Alzheimer’s disease, over a long time period. They hope to gain a much better understanding of changes in the use of language that are distinctive to dementia.
The £518,000 MRC grant will fund researchers based at University of Oxford, Southampton and St George’s, University of London. It’s hoped that the study could lead to tests that allow early diagnosis of the condition before any symptoms are apparent, and could also lead to sensitive measures of language that suggest the likely speed of disease progression and help guide treatment.
Dr Rob Buckle, Board Programme Manager for the Medical Research Council said:
“Earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is important for managing the disease and making it easier to match the most appropriate treatments.
“Neurodegeneration is a key priority research area for the MRC in which we are investing heavily as part of our ongoing commitment to improving human health and wellbeing. Studies such as this one provide an important step in establishing non-invasive methods to monitor the disease.”
Dr Peter Garrard, who is leading the research and a neurologist at St George’s, University of London said:
“We should be able to time the onset of disease more accurately, and also distinguish those people who might see Alzheimer’s take hold over decades from those who see disease progression in just five to ten years.”
Dr Celeste de Jager of OPTIMA said:
“We’re looking for writing over a span of three decades, but we only need examples totalling around 1000 words per decade. People are welcome to suggest material from family and friends as well, including those that have passed away. The only condition is that the writing should be in full sentences rather than notes, such as shopping lists.”
Anyone wishing to get involved with the study should go to www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/optima or telephone OPTIMA on 01865 231270.
Language dysfunction is an almost universal feature of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. People can experience frustrating problems in finding the right words, see a shrinkage in vocabulary or have a tendency to use generic, less specific words.
Computer software will be used to analyse the hundreds of writing examples. These methods will be able to pick up subtle changes in language use over time that can be associated with the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, rather than normal age-related changes in vocabulary and use of words.
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