Title page for ETD etd-10122011-114146

Type of Document Dissertation
Author Stead, Amanda L.
URN etd-10122011-114146
Title Time of Day Effects on Language Discourse in Healthy Aging and Dementia
Degree Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department Communication Sciences & Disorders
Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title
Hoffman, Paul Committee Chair
Buckingham, Hugh Committee Member
Donovan, Neila J Committee Member
Gouvier, William Drew Committee Member
Strain, George Dean's Representative
Keywords
  • aging
  • dementia
  • circadian rhythms
  • diurnal
  • discourse
  • narrative
  • procedural
  • language
  • Alzheimer's disease
Date of Defense 2011-07-20
Availability restricted
Abstract
This study’s purpose was to investigate whether language discourse follows a diurnal pattern across one 10-hour day in normal healthy aging individuals (NHA) and individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Ten healthy older adults; and ten older adults clinically labeled with probable Alzheimer’s disease were recruited for this study. Measurements of procedural language, narrative language, and cognition, the Benton Judgment of Line Orientation (BJLO), were collected across one day at 9:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00 pm, and 6:00pm. Language samples were evaluated for linguistic variables to evaluate the quantity and quality of the discourse samples.

Results indicated that the two groups differed significantly on their cognitive performance across the day, but cognitive performance was not correlated with any of the linguistic measures. Measures of narrative quality were significantly different between the groups. Group differences in procedural quality and quantity were non-significant. Some linguistic variables were susceptible to changes in diurnal patterns, while others were not. Diurnal effects appeared most prevalent in those with a higher cognitive status, with individuals with Alzheimer’s disease showing less variation in linguistic measures across the day. Clinically, these results could impact the timing and administration of cognitive exams and therapies, as to account for changes in arousal patterns. Future studies should include examinations of other linguistic variables to evaluate their susceptibility to diurnal patterns. Physiological measures should be included to provide a more objective measure of circadian rhythms.

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