Assessing Language Impairments Across the Neurodegeneration Continuum: Diagnostic Utility of the BECLA-TR in MCI and Alzheimer Disease.

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.