Prevalence of Word Retrieval Complaint and Prediction of Dementia in a Population-Based Study of Elderly Subjects

Abstract

There is agreement that elderly people complain about word finding difficulties, particularly proper names. However, few studies have focused on the prevalence of this complaint in the general population, nor is it clearly known whether it is predictive of dementia. The aim of this study was to fill this gap using the PAQUID cohort. 1,838 people aged 65 or more completed questionnaires and neuropsychological evaluation regularly during 13 years. Results show that the complaint about proper name retrieval concerns 64% of people aged above 65 years, and the complaint about common names 30%. The complaint was not associated with enhanced risk of dementia, whereas short naming tests were. Only a marginal relation was found between these naming tests and word retrieval complaint. This study emphasizes the importance of proper name retrieval complaint in the general population and suggests that elderly subjects can be reassured in the absence of other symptoms.

Demographic factors and retrieval of object and proper names after age 70

“…They also show that examining object names and proper names together as indication of general cognitive decline or of a general decline in naming ability might overlook important differences between the two types of stimuli. As retrieval of the two types of stimuli is impaired in dementia [ 1 , 32 ], future research should investigate whether one type of task is more helpful in clinical diagnosis of individuals with different demographic characteristics.…”

“…A recent report shows that 30% of people above age 65 complain of difficulties in word retrieval, whereas 64% complain of difficulties in retrieval of proper names [ 1 ]. Such differential subjective reports might reflect the importance that name retrieval has in social interactions, as well as the common belief that retrieval abilities decline with age.…”

“…Older adults often report that proper names are more elusive than are other types of words [ 1 , 2 ]. Research has shown that when people fail to retrieve object names, they tend to provide alternative words, whereas a failure to retrieve a proper name leads to a “don’t know” response [ 3 ].…”

Functional Connectivity of Successful Picture-Naming: Age-Specific Organization and the Effect of Engaging in Stimulating Activities

“…Indeed, accuracy in vocabulary measures is generally maintained or even increased until at least 65 years of age (Salthouse, 2014), as the relationship between age and semantic knowledge degradation follows a quadratic function (Catricalà et al, 2015). Naming accuracy thus appears to be a long preserved ability despite an increase in response time (Wierenga et al, 2008) and a complaint regarding the retrieval of proper names (Condret-Santi et al, 2013), which may be associated with a general slowing down in information processing (Feyereisen et al, 1998). Yet, the naming of common names is not a frequent complaint in healthy aging or when impaired, it may be an early sign of a pathological process (Bowles et al, 1987;Jacobs et al, 1995).…”

Do age-related word retrieval difficulties appear (or disappear) in connected speech?

“…Cognitively healthy older adults often complain of difficulties in word finding (Burke & Shafto, 2004; Condret-Santi, Barbeau, Matharan, Le Goff, Dartigues, & Amieva, 2013; Goral, 2004; Wingfield & Stine-Morrow, 2000). Studies of word retrieval in healthy aging have traditionally employed tasks that require single-word production, such as naming to definition, picture naming, or verbal fluency, generally showing a decline in performance with increased age (e.g., Connor, Spiro, Olber, & Albert, 2004; Gordon & Kindred, 2011; Goral, Spiro, Albert, Obler, & Connor, 2007; Ivnik, Malec, Smith, Tangalos, & Peterson, 1996; James & Burke, 2000; Kavé & Knafo-Noam, 2015; Kavé, Knafo, & Gilboa, 2010; Troyer, Moscovitch, Winocur, 1997; Zec, Burkett, Markwell, & Larsen, 2007).…”