Early detection of young-onset dementia through language analysis

Roel Jonkers, Professor of Neurolinguistics at the University of Groningen, is involved in the development of new tests that can be used to determine whether someone is suffering from young-onset dementia at an earlier stage. Last week, the Dutch Research Council (NWO) awarded a €2.6 million grant to the ‘Better recognition and understanding of early-onset dementia’ project, which researchers, companies, and societal organizations are working on together. The project is led by Professor Yolande Pijnenburg of Amsterdam UMC.

Young-onset dementia

The term young-onset dementia is used when people start experiencing symptoms before the age of 65. These symptoms are usually caused by Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal dementia. The disease is often only detected at a later stage because the symptoms of young-onset dementia usually differ from the well-known forgetfulness. People with young-onset dementia can, for instance, struggle with controlling their impulses and behavior and with empathizing with others.

Language problems in dementia

People with young-onset dementia may also experience language problems. ‘They may have difficulty coming up with words, make mistakes with words or in grammar, or in the sounds of language,’ explains Jonkers. He collaborates on the research project and focuses on analyzing language, with the aim of being able to recognize young-onset dementia better and at an early stage.

Computer model analyzes differences in speech and language

Jonkers: ‘Our PhD student Roelant Ossewaarde is currently developing a computer model with which we can analyze recorded conversations of people with and without dementia. We are looking for differences in speech, word choice, grammar, pauses in a sentence. This way, we are collecting a lot of data about the speech of people with dementia, which we can then use to build a predictive computer model that can recognize dementia in people under 65 at an early stage, and hopefully even distinguish which type of dementia the person has: Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal dementia.’

Early recognition with an app

Jonkers expects that the computer model can be used in an app that will allow people to record conversations themselves without leaving their house. The app will then be able to indicate whether someone is at risk of dementia by analyzing their speech. ‘In this research project we are collaborating with a company that is able to build such an app. With their help, we will be able to recognize dementia at an early stage, even before people actually develop symptoms. This is important, because the earlier you know that you will develop dementia, the better you can learn to cope with it. For example, the early stages of language and speech problems can be treated through speech therapy. Also, if there will be a better treatment for dementia in the future, an early diagnosis could be important.’

Collaboration is key

The goal of the project is to improve the quality of life for people with dementia by 25 percent by 2030. Project leader Yolande Pijnenburg of Amsterdam UMC: ‘We can achieve the project’s goal only by joining forces with a multidisciplinary research team comprising companies and societal organizations. I am convinced that together we will succeed.’

Partners

The research will start in the second half of 2022. The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) is partner of this project. The project team includes several specialists in fields such as neurology, genetics, neuropsychology, and language. They are affiliated with Amsterdam UMC, VU Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, the Erasmus University Medical Center, Delft University of Technology, Leiden University Medical Center, Royal Melbourne Hospital (Australia), American organizations Winterlight Labs, Immuneering and Biosensics, and Dutch organizations Kenniscentrum dementie op jonge leeftijd (Knowledge Centre for young-onset dementia), FTD Lotgenoten (Frontotemporal dementia peer support group), Nederlands Geheugenkliniek Netwerk (Dutch Network of Memory clinics), Alzheimer Nederland, and Team Alzheimer.