Scientists have explained why speech slows down in older people
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Scientists from the University of Toronto in Canada have concluded that slower speech in older people may be associated with a decline in cognitive function. The study results were published in the journal Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition (ANC).
As part of the study, 125 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 90 took part in three different tests. The first test involved describing an image and answering questions with a distractor—a voice in headphones saying random words.
Participants were then asked to verbally describe two different images (60 seconds were allocated for each image). Their language skills were analyzed using special software based on artificial intelligence. The researchers also took into account the speed of speech and the number of pauses made by the participants during the description process. The third stage of the experiment consisted of testing cognitive abilities.
The results showed that the number and duration of pauses participants made to search for words did not correlate with worsening brain health. However, overall slower speech (including slow word selection) has been associated with worse cognitive performance, especially memory.
Scientists note that many older people worry about having to pause to find the right words. According to research, this is a natural part of the aging process. However, a slower overall speech rate is not normal.
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