A recent scientific study conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in Canada has indicated that the speed at which someone speaks could be connected to their risk of developing dementia. The study, titled 'Cognitive components of aging-related increase in word-finding difficulty', involved 125 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 90 who completed various cognitive assessments. Researchers found that changes in a person's talking speed may reflect changes in their brain health.

Dr. Jed Meltzer, the co-author of the study, emphasized the importance of incorporating talking speed as part of standard cognitive assessments to detect cognitive decline faster in older adults. While the study found a correlation between talking speed and brain health, it did not establish a causal relationship between the two. The researchers highlighted that slowing down normal speech, regardless of pausing, may be a crucial indicator of changes in brain health.

The findings, published in the Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition journal, suggested that modifications in talking speed could potentially aid in the early detection of cognitive decline, enabling clinicians to prescribe interventions to maintain or improve brain health as individuals age. The research team plans to conduct further studies monitoring individuals over an extended period to explore the relationship between talking speed and brain health.