Sarcasm finds medical use in dementia detection (AFP)

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12 Dec 2008, 12:54 pm

SYDNEY (AFP) – Sarcasm may be the lowest form of wit, but Australian scientists are using it to diagnose dementia, according to research published on Friday.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales found that patients under the age of 65 suffering from frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the second most common form of dementia, cannot detect when someone is being sarcastic.

The study, described by its authors as groundbreaking, helps explain why patients with the condition behave the way they do and why, for example, they are unable to pick up their caregivers' moods, the research showed

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081212/ts ... iadementia

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12 Dec 2008, 1:45 pm

MrMark wrote:

Don't you know sarcasm when you hear it? topic

This would be a good dx tool if the person was able to detect sarcasm previously. The change in understanding is a signal that the patient needs a dementia assessment.

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12 Dec 2008, 2:55 pm

i've often thought doctors here and there were being sarcastic, if i were older i'd be booked for a dementia test because i keep quiet and only mention it to others afterwards.

i think it's strange and slightly ironic how something seen as negative could turn out to be quite positive.

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12 Dec 2008, 3:38 pm

The study is flawed because most Aspies don't get sarcasm. Unless of course they might be suggesting we all have dementia too.

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12 Dec 2008, 3:39 pm

people used to think i was 'demented' so i can see where you're coming from...

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12 Dec 2008, 3:48 pm

Ticker wrote:

The study is flawed because most Aspies don't get sarcasm. Unless of course they might be suggesting we all have dementia too.

I'm thinking it's possible that autistics and people with frontotemporal dementia don't get sarcasm for essentially the same reason: that part of the brain isn't working like it should.

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12 Dec 2008, 3:50 pm

i once read that autism related disorders are caused by either damage to the brain or genetics causing certain parts of the brain to not develop so you could be on to something there MrMark.

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12 Dec 2008, 4:01 pm

sarcasm is the highest form of human achievemenm-now am i being sarcastic or not?-

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12 Dec 2008, 4:08 pm

Only you know for sure.

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12 Dec 2008, 4:09 pm

Eggman wrote:

sarcasm is the highest form of human achievemenm-now am i being sarcastic or not?-

no, you must be serious :roll:

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13 Dec 2008, 1:33 am

Sarcastro, my favorite super hero

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14 Dec 2008, 7:27 pm

familiar_stranger wrote:

i once read that autism related disorders are caused by either damage to the brain or genetics causing certain parts of the brain to not develop so you could be on to something there MrMark.

I've often wondered that myself because it seems to me many of the symptoms of Aspergers are identical to brain injury symptoms. I expressed this at a AS meeting and the parents all gave me a "shut up you dork look". But then several parents of little Aspies and adults Aspies later mentioned one thing in common- difficult forceps delivery and oxygen deprivation at birth. Both of which can cause brain injury. I rest my case.

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15 Dec 2008, 8:43 am

they had to use forceps on me when i was born... could this be a new possible cause???

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15 Dec 2008, 9:01 am

Lots of things can cause abnormal brain development. I think of autism as just a collection of symptoms.

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