Language is central to human cognition, and successful communication is crucial to our well-being. We dedicate vast neurological resources to both: cortical and subcortical regions in both hemispheres. Any substantial change in the brain has a high likelihood of affecting language capacities at some level, and to date, each examined dementia type has been associated with changes to language and communication. These changes result in substantial challenges to people living with dementia.

In this module, we cover the main dementia subtypes and language change associated with each. In lab sessions, we will work with language samples to understand the linguistic profiles of dementia first-hand. We will also speak with people affected by dementia in order to understand better the effects of dementia on everyday life.

Language change in dementia also presents opportunities for cost-effective and computerized disease diagnosis. We will discuss some of these approaches as well as language-based interventions for dementia, such as conversation therapy and creating dementia-friendly environments.

The course will be presented as a series of classroom lectures laboratory sessions and one visit by a person living with dementia.

The lectures will introduce dementia and its subtypes and cover language and communication issues associated with dementia. A lecture may focus on specific subtypes (such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or Primary Progressive Aphasias), or highlight particular approaches to language analysis in dementia. One lecture will cover language based diagnosis and intervention relevant to dementia. Some of the content will be delivered by guest lecturers from UCL’s Dementia Research Centre. In one lecture, someone affected by dementia (a patient and/or a family member or carer) will visit and speak about challenges with communication.

During laboratory sessions, students will train analysis of written language samples, using examples from dementia. This knowledge will be necessary for the formative and summative assignments.

Aims

To provide an introduction to dementia and an overview of different dementia subtypes, including their behavioural and neuroanatomic signatures.
	To provide an overview of issues with language and communication associated with each dementia subtype.
	To deepen students’ understanding of the language science subfields relevant to understanding language and communication in dementia, in particular phonetics, semantics, morphology, grammar and pragmatics.
	To familiarize students with language-based approaches to diagnosis and intervention in dementia.
	To train linguistic analysis of language samples.
	To raise sensitivity to challenges of people living with dementia, and to dementia as a challenge to society.
Outcomes

Awareness of dementia types, including behavioural and neurological changes associated with each.
	Understanding of issues with language and communication associated with dementia.
	Awareness of language-based clinical approaches to dementia.
	Application of knowledge about language science subfields.
	Experience with analysis of language samples from dementia.
	Increased sensitivity to societal issues related to dementia.