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Language is a complex cognitive function which relies upon widely distributed brain networks (including, but not limited to, the left-dominant perisylvian regions). Consequently, even minor brain changes can result in subtle language alterations. A representative example is Dementia syndromes, where language symptoms due to brain atrophy are reported at the earliest stages and in full-blown pathology, playing a crucial role in the diagnosis.
AKiD will investigate the phonetic profile of patients with Dementia. Reviewing the scientific literature, this component of linguistic competence emerges as highly reliable to automatically detect preclinical and clinical cognitive decline due to protein misfolding diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's dementia and Frontotemporal dementia). To this aim, an innovative experimental method that combines in-depth acoustic and articulatory analysis will be implemented.