Assessing Language Impairments Across the Neurodegeneration Continuum: Diagnostic Utility of the BECLA-TR in MCI and Alzheimer Disease
Alzheimer disease and associated disorders, cilt.40, sa.1, ss.52-58, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 40 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000715
- Dergi Adı: Alzheimer disease and associated disorders
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, AgeLine, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.52-58
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Alzheimer disease, BECLA-Tr, diagnostic accuracy, language assessment, mild cognitive impairment
- Maltepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
BACKGROUND: As the global population ages, the prevalence of major neurocognitive disorders (MND), particularly Alzheimer disease (AD), continues to rise. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is considered a prodromal stage of AD, yet differentiating MCI from early-stage AD remains a clinical challenge, especially regarding language impairments. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the diagnostic utility of the Turkish adaptation of the Batterie d'Évaluation Cognitive du Langage (BECLA-Tr) and to determine its effectiveness as one of the first multidimensional language assessments standardized for Turkish speakers. METHODS: Ninety participants (30 MCI, 30 AD, and 30 healthy controls) completed the BECLA-Tr in addition to general cognitive and language screening tests. The BECLA-Tr assesses 4 domains: recognition of spoken and written words, semantic processing, spoken production, and written language. RESULTS: AD participants showed significant impairments across nearly all BECLA-Tr domains compared with both MCI and controls. MCI participants exhibited selective deficits in semantic processing while maintaining comparable performance to controls in spoken and written production. CONCLUSION: The BECLA-Tr demonstrated strong diagnostic sensitivity for detecting language impairments across the neurodegeneration continuum, supporting its clinical use for early detection and intervention in MCI and AD.