Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: MARIA CAROLINA NASCIMENTO SILVA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MARIA CAROLINA NASCIMENTO SILVA
DATE: 28/09/2026
TIME: 10:00
LOCAL: Plataforma Google Meet
TITLE:

Semantic Memory Performance in Individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

KEY WORDS:

Speech-Language Pathology. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cognition. Semantic Memory. Neuropsychological Tests.

PAGES: 40
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Fonoaudiologia
SUMMARY:

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle weakness and atrophy, fasciculations, and speech impairments. Although motor dysfunction is the predominant clinical feature, language and cognitive impairments have also been reported in individuals with ALS. In this context, semantic memory plays a fundamental role in linguistic and cognitive functioning and may be impaired in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, directly affecting communication. Objective: The primary aim of this study is to investigate semantic memory performance in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Methods: This is a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, case-control study involving inferential statistical analysis. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the host institution (approval no. 7,939,935). Data will be collected at the Neuromuscular Diseases Outpatient Clinic and the Speech-Language Pathology Teaching Clinic of the host institution. The sample will comprise 60 participants recruited through convenience sampling and divided into two groups: 30 patients diagnosed with ALS and 30 individuals without ALS. Inclusion criteria for the ALS group will be a confirmed diagnosis of ALS, regardless of sex, and a disease stage that allows for oral communication. For the control group, inclusion criteria will include no diagnosis of dementia or other neurocognitive disorder and preserved oral communication. Participants with other associated neurological conditions, severe motor speech impairments, or advanced-stage disease precluding oral communication will be excluded. In the first stage, patients with ALS will complete an anamnesis questionnaire and the assessment protocols at a previously scheduled appointment at the outpatient clinic. In the second stage, at a previously scheduled appointment, caregivers or companions of patients receiving care at the Speech-Language Pathology Teaching Clinic will be recruited to comprise the control group and will undergo the same assessment procedures. Data collection is expected to take approximately 30 minutes per participant. The primary assessment instrument will be the Semantic Memory Assessment Battery (BAMS), which is designed to assess semantic memory abilities in individuals with neurological disorders. The battery comprises seven tasks addressing the domains of lexical processing (word access and retrieval), categorization (organization of items into semantic categories), and conceptualization (understanding of concepts and relationships among them). In addition, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Cognitive Behavioral Screen–Brazilian version (ALS-CBS-BR), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) will be administered as complementary assessment measures. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses will be conducted using Jamovi software. Expected Results: Differences in semantic memory performance are expected between individuals with and without ALS. The study is also expected to characterize potential impairments in this domain and their impact on communication. These findings may contribute to improving clinical assessment, informing individualized therapeutic planning, and advancing research in the field of Speech-Language Pathology.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Interna - ***.716.504-** - ISABELLE CAHINO DELGADO - UFPB
Presidente - 1312141 - IVONALDO LEIDSON BARBOSA LIMA
Externa ao Programa - 1805071 - MARIA DE JESUS GONCALVES - null