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What is semantic dementia?: a cohort study of diagnostic features and clinical boundaries
Kertesz A, Jesso S, Harciarek M, Blair M, McMonagle P.. Archives of neurology, 2010-04-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objectives To describe a large, clinically defined cohort of patients with semantic dementia (SD) that highlights important, sometimes overlooked features and to compare it with similar entities. Design Cohort study. Setting A cognitive neurology clinic. Patients A population of 48 patients clinically diagnosed with SD was contrasted with 52 patients with progressive nonfluent aphasia, 42 patients with a behavioral variety of frontotemporal dementia, and 105 patients with Alzheimer disease on speech output characteristics, comprehension, naming, and repetition subtests of the Western Aphasia Battery, the Frontal Behavioral Inventory, and other cognitive tests. Neuroimaging was visually analyzed, and 6 patients with SD had autopsy. Results Of 37 patients with probable SD, 48.6% had semantic jargon; 21.6%, excessive garrulous output; and 75.7%, some pragmatic disturbance. Semantic substitutions were frequent in SD (54.1%) but phonological errors were absent, in contrast to progressive nonfluent aphasia with the opposite pattern. All but 3 patients with probable SD questioned the meaning of words. Patients with SD had significantly lower naming and comprehension scores, and their fluency was between progressive nonfluent aphasia and Alzheimer disease or behavioral frontotemporal dementia. Behavior was abnormal in 94.6% of patients with probable SD. Conclusions Semantic dementia is distinguishable from other presentations of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease, not only by fluent speech and impaired comprehension without loss of episodic memory, syntax, and phonology but also by empty, garrulous speech with thematic perseverations, semantic paraphasias, and poor category fluency. Questioning the meaning of words (eg, "What is steak?") is an important diagnostic clue not seen in other groups, and behavior change is prevalent.
Key findings
- Results Of 37 patients with probable SD, 48.6% had semantic jargon; 21.6%, excessive garrulous output; and 75.7%, some pragmatic disturbance.
- Patients with SD had significantly lower naming and comprehension scores, and their fluency was between progressive nonfluent aphasia and Alzheimer disease or behavioral frontotemporal dementia.
Why it matters
This study describes the features of 48 patients with semantic dementia and compares them with patients who have other types of dementia, finding differences in speech, naming, comprehension, and behavior. It is about diagnosing and distinguishing types of dementia, not about treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants48
- Effect size48.6%; 21.6%; 75.7%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 56/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Archives of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Archives of Neurology: journal h-index 353 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 48 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 108 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.0 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 18 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Paul McMonagle: h-index 17 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Western University: institution h-index 899 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20385916) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 56 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1001/archneurol.2010.55
- PubMed: 20385916
- Original source →
- Free full text: Archives of Neurology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Kertesz, A., Jesso, S., Harciarek, M., Blair, M., & McMonagle, P. (2010). What is semantic dementia?: a cohort study of diagnostic features and clinical boundaries. Archives of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneurol.2010.55
Vancouver
Kertesz A, Jesso S, Harciarek M, Blair M, McMonagle P. What is semantic dementia?: a cohort study of diagnostic features and clinical boundaries. Archives of neurology. 2010. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2010.55. PMID: 20385916.
BibTeX
@article{kertesz2010-20385916,
author = {Kertesz, A. and Jesso, S. and Harciarek, M. and Blair, M. and McMonagle, P.},
title = {{What is semantic dementia?: a cohort study of diagnostic features and clinical boundaries}},
journal = {Archives of neurology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1001/archneurol.2010.55},
pmid = {20385916},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/archneurol.2010.55}
}
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