Study about Executive Function
 

I certainly can identify with this:

Study: Parkinson’s disease undermines language processing ability in Dutch native speaker patients

The Medical News, 9. February 2011 06:35

"Katrien Colman demonstrates that impairment of the executive functions also affects language processing. For example, impairment of the executive brain function can result in a patient no longer understanding a complicated sentence construction: before he reaches the end of the sentence, he has forgotten how it began. Impairment of flexibility means that the patient has difficulty in changing the subject, even if there is a clear reason to do so. Impairment of the ability to work in a structured way means that it becomes difficult to construct grammatically correct sentences.

"Aphasia: a different problem
The language processing problems of Parkinson's patients are sometimes compared with those of aphasia patients. Often incorrectly, as revealed by Colman's research. Aphasia, for example as the result of an infarct, can affect the grammatical ability itself, meaning that the patient can no longer conjugate a verb. The patient can then, for example, no longer derive the past participle 'walked' from the infinitive 'to walk'. With Parkinson's patients, this specific grammatical ability is not affected but rather the underlying executive function. The patient is then in principle able to derive a past participle, but in some situations does not do so - for example because he can no longer view the sentence as a whole.

"Don't treat them as children
The research reveals that the language processing problems of Parkinson's patients deserve serious attention. Colman: 'If communication is difficult, this does not necessarily mean that the patient is tired or depressed, or that there's something wrong with his intelligence.' Patients can be helped if people communicate with them in simple sentences, but it would be wrong to treat them as children. Colman: 'We could spare patients a lot of suffering if we learnt to better understand their language impairments and developed suitable ways to communicate with them.'"

I am happy for all of the new research regarding cognition and PD in all of its forms, but this news has me in tears for the lack of recognition during the first decade of my struggle with this disease. I feel like I've lost my life, and it's too late now. I wish someone had listened earlier.

Carey, the work you did in helping get these thing recognised cannot be underestimated. I know I can sometimes communicate verbally in a competent way, other times poorly, and sometimes not at all. But at all times I am aware that I am trying to.... if not for people here and on the older forums I would not have known what was happening because nowhere else told me.... it is good that it is now being described in terms that do not underestimate the people we are beneath our symptoms.

I too was moved by this sentence:' If communication is difficult, this does not necessarily mean that the patient is tired or depressed, or that there's something wrong with his intelligence.'

On the other had, we may be tired and depressed, and no able to communicate, but that too does not mean that we have anything wrong with our intelligence.

The people I have met here show a way above average measure of that!

Thank you so much

Lindy

You still have it!
 

This thread is beautiful! It shows how concerned we are for oone another. Carey, you are an eloquent speaker - I know there are times when we all grope around in our heads for words that never reach our tongues, but the way you expressed yourself here shows that you still have it.

Not only do we need listeners, we need vocal ambassadors to share such experiences as described here. Like you said, Carey, you wish someoone had listened earlier. I'm so glad we found this place (and BrainTalk) before it was too late.
Hugs!
Peg

what can we do?
 

Imad
 

If you only knew how much I hope you are right ! (yes, that's a sentence fragment, but it makes my point!) Never give up hoping, and put feet on your dreams!
Peggy

Little they know !
 

Peggy,
I don't hope it, but I know it that our minds will adapt and compensate for minor deficiencies. It is the truth that science know so little about the most marvellous God's creation.
cheers
Imad

put feet on your dreams
 

I love the imagery in this phrase. Thanks, Peg.

sheryl