Cognitive Phenotyping of Parkinson's Disease Patients Via Digital Analysis of Spoken Word Properties.

Summary: People with Parkinson's disease often have trouble with memory and thinking. Usually, doctors have to use long tests to check for these problems. But what if the words a person chooses could show how their brain is doing?

In a new study, scientists recorded over 400 patients with Parkinson's as they listed words, like naming animals or items in a supermarket. Using a computer program, they looked closely at the types of words the patients used. They found that patients with memory problems used shorter, simpler, and less varied words. The computer was able to spot these thinking problems very well, even better than some standard tests! This means doctors might soon use a quick, simple speech test to check brain health in Parkinson's patients.