UT receives funding for Alzheimer’s study on speech impairment in Mexican Americans

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Alzheimer’s Association said it is currently funding $1.2 million in research projects across Central Texas, which includes research at the University of Texas.

The grant awarded by the Alzheimer’s Association to Dr. Stephanie Grasso, an associate professor at the University of Texas, and her team allows them to study evidence-based speech-language impairment in Mexican Americans.

KXAN’s Mike Rush spoke to the Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association Capital of Texas Chapter, Andrea Torres about how findings may lead to a new non-invasive, low-cost intervention.

Use the video player above to watch the discussion or read an edited transcript of the conversation below.

Rush: So this is dealing with specifically speech impairment brought on by Alzheimer’s, tell us about that.

Torres: So this particular study that Dr. Grasso and her colleagues are doing is really focusing on Mexican Americans as well. We know that older Hispanic and Latino Americans are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s and other dementias. So doing research specifically on that population can be helpful. This particular study is around speech patterns and developing culturally appropriate online training to improve speech impairment in older Mexican Americans who may have Alzheimer’s.

Rush: And tell us how this process will go. I read a little bit about it. So basically they will work with these patients on their speech and is it for the hope of trying to get them to be able to speak better after the end of this research?

Torres: Well, actually there have been other recent studies that have found that there are subtle changes in speech patterns things like the rate of one speed or the length of the pauses in between their words and that may be indicative of early brain changes that are observed in Alzheimer’s. Those are things that are not easily detectable in clinical settings.

Dr. Grasso and her colleague are going to be recruiting individuals with Alzheimer’s associated speech impairments and work to develop online training to help improve that speech impairment with those results giving insight into the language changes that may occur during Alzheimer’s progression. Also, perhaps lead to a new non-invasive low-cost intervention for speech impairment in older Mexican American adults with Alzheimer’s.

Rush: I see so this particular project is just really one of a few that the Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring through its grants more than one million dollars going throughout Central Texas. Tell us about that effort.

Torres: Well here in Central Texas, we’re funding seven research projects that range from understanding Alzheimer’s and dementia at a cellular level to understanding how technology can help those experiencing Alzheimer’s and dementia.

So, as you mentioned we’re currently funding $1.2 million in research here in Central Texas and it’s because of the support of the community that makes that possible.

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