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Volume 27, Issue 4 (winter 2026)
Advances in Cognitive Sciences 2026, 27(4): 101-123 |
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Ethics code: IR.UT.IRICSS.REC.1402.038
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Bakhtiari Doulabi H, Sadat Qoreishi Z, Karami M, Almasi dooghaee M, Sadeghi M. Comparison of semantic, syntactic and phonetic components of people with mild cognitive disorder with healthy Persian-speaking individuals. Advances in Cognitive Sciences 2026; 27 (4) :101-123
URL: http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-1821-en.html
URL: http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-1821-en.html
Hanieh Bakhtiari Doulabi *1 
, Zahra Sadat Qoreishi2 , Mahdieh Karami3 , Mostafa Almasi dooghaee4 , Meysam Sadeghi5
, Zahra Sadat Qoreishi2 , Mahdieh Karami3 , Mostafa Almasi dooghaee4 , Meysam Sadeghi5
1- MSc Student in Cognitive Psychology, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran
2- Assistant Professor of Speech Therapy, University of Social Welfare and rehabilitation sciences, Tehran, Iran
3- Assistant Professor of Cognitive Linguistics, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran
4- Assistant Professor, Neurology Department, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran & Firoozgar Clinical Research Development Center (FCRDC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5- Assistant Professor of Psychometrics, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran
2- Assistant Professor of Speech Therapy, University of Social Welfare and rehabilitation sciences, Tehran, Iran
3- Assistant Professor of Cognitive Linguistics, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran
4- Assistant Professor, Neurology Department, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran & Firoozgar Clinical Research Development Center (FCRDC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5- Assistant Professor of Psychometrics, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (309 Views)
Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an early stage of cognitive decline often accompanied by changes in language abilities. Since language reflects an individual’s mental state, examining linguistic indices can be an effective way to diagnose this condition. This study aimed to compare cognitive-linguistic-motor speech features and analyze connected speech in free speech and descriptive speech tasks between individuals with MCI and healthy older adults.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 62 participants, including 25 individuals with MCI (73.60±8.12 years) and 37 healthy older adults (69.14±9.35 years), all Persian-speaking, were assessed. Cognitive status was assessed using the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised Linguistic and speech motor functions were assessed using the second edition of the Persian Western Aphasia Battery (P-WAB-2) and an oral-verbal apraxia test, respectively. Connected speech analysis for both tasks was performed using the “GofteNegar” platform, and semantic and syntactic indices were extracted.
Results: Individuals with MCI performed more poorly than healthy older adults on cognitive and linguistic measures, particularly in free speech tasks (P<0.001). At the phonological level, no difference was observed between the two groups, indicating preserved speech motor function. In connected speech analysis, although statistical differences were not significant, mean ranks indicated lower performance in the MCI group during free speech; no significant difference was observed in the descriptive speech task.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that semantic and syntactic indices of free speech can serve as sensitive markers for distinguishing individuals with MCI from healthy older adults, underscoring the need to incorporate connected speech analysis into early screening protocols.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 62 participants, including 25 individuals with MCI (73.60±8.12 years) and 37 healthy older adults (69.14±9.35 years), all Persian-speaking, were assessed. Cognitive status was assessed using the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised Linguistic and speech motor functions were assessed using the second edition of the Persian Western Aphasia Battery (P-WAB-2) and an oral-verbal apraxia test, respectively. Connected speech analysis for both tasks was performed using the “GofteNegar” platform, and semantic and syntactic indices were extracted.
Results: Individuals with MCI performed more poorly than healthy older adults on cognitive and linguistic measures, particularly in free speech tasks (P<0.001). At the phonological level, no difference was observed between the two groups, indicating preserved speech motor function. In connected speech analysis, although statistical differences were not significant, mean ranks indicated lower performance in the MCI group during free speech; no significant difference was observed in the descriptive speech task.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that semantic and syntactic indices of free speech can serve as sensitive markers for distinguishing individuals with MCI from healthy older adults, underscoring the need to incorporate connected speech analysis into early screening protocols.
Type of Study: Research |
Received: 2025/09/7 | Accepted: 2026/06/7 | Published: 2026/06/10
Received: 2025/09/7 | Accepted: 2026/06/7 | Published: 2026/06/10
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