Linguistic-cognitive intervention in a case of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease

Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (EOAD) is an atypical variant of dementia that usually presents with impairments in language, visuospatial abilities, executive functions, or complex motor skills, with an early onset before the age of 65. This case study investigates the effect of a weekly language-cognitive intervention program in a patient with EOAD, diagnosed at the age of 58. The following protocols were applied for assessment before, during, and after the intervention: the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination – Revised (ACE-R), the Arizona Battery for Communication Disorders of Dementia (ABCD), and the Boston Naming Test (BNT). This case study demonstrated that the language-cognitive intervention had a beneficial effect in maintaining linguistic expression abilities, despite the expected progression of a neurodegenerative disease.

Keywords:
Dementia; Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease; Cognitive Dysfunction; Language and Speech Disorder Rehabilitation; Speech-Language Pathology