Linguistic development in Alzheimer's disease: 12 months language training including use of a personal computer system: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess linguistic development in patients with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) who underwent treatment with a drug and regularly performed language activities.

METHODS

For 12 months, five patients with mild-to-moderate AD participated in a Stimulation-Activation-Training programme (SAT) including pragmatic, semantic, writing, conversation and counting sessions. A computer with exercise programs and a keyboard with a printer were used as complements to ordinary stationery. The linguistic competence was assessed using a standardized assessment tool.

RESULTS

The assessment indicated preservation or slight changes of the patients' linguistic competence over the period and greater confidence in the management of the language. The personal computer system was a well accepted novelty.

CONCLUSION

The documented approach, SAT training interlaced with everyday life tasks, may be helpful in maintaining and improving remaining language functions in patients with mild or moderate AD.