Abstract：
Dementia cases are expected to rise to 81.1 million in 2040. Efforts are underway to develop diagnostic methods to facilitate early detection of the disease. Herein we review research findings focusing on pragmatic dysfunction in patients with dementia and evaluate the usefulness of assessing dementia and its progress with a battery of tests assessing figurative language skills.
A total of 74,778 article titles were identified from EMBASE, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. After systematic screening, 51 journal articles were selected for the final review.
The review suggests that impaired figurative language might be a marker for early cognitive decline. Different forms of figurative language may be impaired at different stages of the disease and in different types of dementia involving different neuropathologies.
The use of pragmatic tests in combination with the existing diagnostic protocols might increase the probability of early diagnosis. HIGHLIGHTS Pragmatic impairment could be a marker of early cognitive impairment. Figurative language-an important pragmatic aspect-is disrupted in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer\'s disease (AD). Figurative language impairment might precede literal language impairment. Pragmatic tests could be more sensitive than standard neuropsychological tests. Inclusion of pragmatic tests in diagnostic guidelines might bolster early detection.
A total of 74,778 article titles were identified from EMBASE, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. After systematic screening, 51 journal articles were selected for the final review.
The review suggests that impaired figurative language might be a marker for early cognitive decline. Different forms of figurative language may be impaired at different stages of the disease and in different types of dementia involving different neuropathologies.
The use of pragmatic tests in combination with the existing diagnostic protocols might increase the probability of early diagnosis. HIGHLIGHTS Pragmatic impairment could be a marker of early cognitive impairment. Figurative language-an important pragmatic aspect-is disrupted in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer\'s disease (AD). Figurative language impairment might precede literal language impairment. Pragmatic tests could be more sensitive than standard neuropsychological tests. Inclusion of pragmatic tests in diagnostic guidelines might bolster early detection.
摘要：
背景：预计2040年痴呆症病例将增加到8110万。正在努力开发诊断方法以促进疾病的早期检测。在此，我们回顾了针对痴呆症患者语用功能障碍的研究结果，并通过一系列评估比喻性语言技能的测试来评估痴呆症及其进展的有用性。
方法：从EMBASE中确定了总共74,778篇文章标题，PubMed,和谷歌学者数据库。经过系统筛选,选择了51篇期刊文章进行最终审查。
结果：该综述表明，具象性语言受损可能是早期认知能力下降的标志。不同形式的具象语言可能在疾病的不同阶段和涉及不同神经病理学的不同类型的痴呆中受损。
结论：将语用测试与现有诊断方案结合使用可能会增加早期诊断的可能性。语用障碍可能是早期认知障碍的标志。具象性语言-一个重要的语用方面-在轻度认知障碍（MCI）和早期阿尔茨海默病（AD）中被破坏。形象性语言障碍可能先于文字语言障碍。语用测试可能比标准神经心理学测试更敏感。在诊断指南中纳入语用测试可能会促进早期发现。
方法：从EMBASE中确定了总共74,778篇文章标题，PubMed,和谷歌学者数据库。经过系统筛选,选择了51篇期刊文章进行最终审查。
结果：该综述表明，具象性语言受损可能是早期认知能力下降的标志。不同形式的具象语言可能在疾病的不同阶段和涉及不同神经病理学的不同类型的痴呆中受损。
结论：将语用测试与现有诊断方案结合使用可能会增加早期诊断的可能性。语用障碍可能是早期认知障碍的标志。具象性语言-一个重要的语用方面-在轻度认知障碍（MCI）和早期阿尔茨海默病（AD）中被破坏。形象性语言障碍可能先于文字语言障碍。语用测试可能比标准神经心理学测试更敏感。在诊断指南中纳入语用测试可能会促进早期发现。
