What is it about?
Language difficulties are often among the earliest signs of cognitive decline in older adults. In this study, we examined whether simple word-based tasks can help detect these early changes in Turkish-speaking individuals. We focused on tasks that ask people to produce as many action words or words starting with specific letters as possible within a short time. We first established reference scores from a large group of healthy older adults, taking into account age and education. We then tested whether these tasks can distinguish healthy individuals from those with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Our findings show that these simple and quick language tasks can effectively identify early cognitive problems and clearly differentiate between stages of impairment. This is especially important because early detection can support timely diagnosis and intervention. Overall, this study demonstrates that culturally adapted and easy-to-use language tests can serve as practical tools for screening cognitive decline in clinical settings.
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Why is it important?
Early detection of cognitive decline is critical for timely diagnosis and intervention, especially in conditions such as mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. However, many widely used assessment tools are either too general or not adapted to specific languages and cultures, which can limit their accuracy. This study is important because it provides culturally appropriate reference data for Turkish-speaking older adults and demonstrates that simple word fluency tasks can effectively distinguish between healthy aging and different stages of cognitive impairment. Two key findings are that: (a) phonemic fluency tasks are highly sensitive in differentiating between healthy individuals, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease; and (b) verb fluency tasks are particularly useful in identifying more advanced cognitive decline. These results show that quick, low-cost language tests can be used as reliable tools in clinical practice, improving early screening and supporting more accurate diagnostic decisions.
Perspectives
This study represents an important step in my ongoing research on language-based markers of cognitive decline in Turkish-speaking populations. Working on this project was particularly meaningful, as it allowed us to combine rigorous normative data with clear clinical applications, bridging a gap that I have frequently encountered in both research and clinical practice. One of the most rewarding aspects of this work was seeing how simple and accessible language tasks can provide valuable insights into early cognitive changes. As a speech and language therapist, I find it especially important to develop tools that are not only scientifically robust but also practical for everyday clinical use. This study has also opened new directions for future research, particularly in exploring longitudinal changes in language performance and integrating more advanced methods such as digital and automated analysis tools. More broadly, it has strengthened my motivation to contribute to the development of culturally adapted assessment tools for neurodegenerative conditions in understudied languages.
Samet Tosun
Biruni Universitesi
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Normative data and clinical validity of verb and phonemic fluency tasks in Turkish-speaking older adults., Neuropsychology, April 2026, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/neu0001089.
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