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Language changes in Alzheimer's disease in a patient of the Karajá ethnicity
Author(s) -
de Lacerda Maria Carolina Cabral,
Caixeta Leonardo Ferreira
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.044089
Subject(s) - ethnic group , context (archaeology) , indigenous , portuguese , boston naming test , verbal fluency test , indigenous language , psychology , fluency , medicine , gerontology , dementia , disease , linguistics , geography , psychiatry , sociology , anthropology , pathology , ecology , neuropsychology , archaeology , philosophy , cognition , mathematics education , biology
Background The influence of an ethnic role in the expression of (AD) alzheimer's disease has been studied by several authors. However, there are practically no studies on mental health in the indigenous elderly. Method A male patient, 72 years old, chief of the Karajá indigenous tribe, with a medical diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease, with language disorders was evaluated both in Portuguese and in the native language Karajá. Was used the Boston Naming Test (BNT), Verbal fluency (semantic category) and board Theft of biscuits. Ten target figures were also used, referring to their natural habitat (turtle, pipes, arrow, gourd, jaguar, fire, banana tree, drum, net and hollow). Result The results demonstrated that there is a deterioration of the language in both evaluated languages, worse in Portuguese. In the Boston naming test, of the 60 named figures, the patient named figures in 21 Portuguese language and 28 Karajá linguage figures. In verbal fluency he presented 05 words in Portuguese and 07 in Karajá. In oral production, he demonstrated important anomie, an empty speech with little context, in both languages. Regarding the target figures of their habitat, he showed anomie to a figure (drum) in Karajá, "Weriri". Conclusion Further studies aimed at investigating language disorders in different ethnic groups, especially indigenous peoples, allow for early diagnosis of dementia, as well as assisting public policies on quality of life and mental health in this community.