A simple dictation task may offer early warning signs of dementia, according to new research.
Scientists in Portugal studied 58 older adults, ages 62 to 92, including 38 already diagnosed with cognitive impairment. Participants used a digital pen on a tablet while completing writing exercises.
Simple tasks like copying text didn't reveal major differences. However, when writing from dictation, those with impairment showed slower, more fragmented, and less coordinated patterns.
Lead researcher Dr. Ana Rita Matias of the University of Évora explained: dictation requires the brain to process language, convert sounds to text, and coordinate movement simultaneously-raising the cognitive load.
The goal, she says, is a low-cost, easy-to-administer tool for routine healthcare checks.
Study limitations include a small, homogeneous sample and lack of medication data. Results were published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.