BACKGROUND: Verbal language deteriorates in @entity195 , contributing to dramatic disturbances in the ability to communicate. The presence of language disturbances may be detected at earlier phases of the neurodegenerative process, like @entity73 ( @entity73 ). In daily verbal interactions, @entity1 mostly use literal language, but sometimes they employ non-literal language, which requires listeners to interpret messages beyond the plain meaning of the words and can be quite demanding. In the present study, we tested the hypotheses that @entity1 with @entity73 may have deficits in non-literal language, and these deficits are more pronounced than deficits in literal language. METHODS: @entity1 were recruited in a private memory clinic and senior universities. General cognitive evaluation included a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the instrumental activities of daily living scale. Literal language was assessed with the semantic decision test, Token Test, and literal text comprehension test, and non-literal language with the proverbs comprehension, idiomatic expressions and non-literal text comprehension tests. RESULTS: Fifty-two @entity1 with @entity73 and 31 controls were recruited. @entity1 with @entity73 had lower scores in all complex language tests, both literal (Token Test, semantic decision and literal text) and non-literal (proverbs, idiomatic expressions, and non-literal text), than the controls; the difference in literal text score was marginally significant. As much as 69% of @entity73 @entity1 had deficits (performance below 1.5 SD of the mean) on at least one of the complex language tasks. Deficits were more frequent on the proverbs comprehension and semantic decision tests, and the deficits on these tests did not significantly differ from that on the Token Test. CONCLUSION: @entity1 with @entity73 are hindered in understanding complex language, both literal and non-literal. In daily living, these @entity51 could compromise effective verbal interactions with the others. Amelioration of these deficits should be an important intervention target as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy for @entity1 with @entity73 .

@entity51 in XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'Patients', 'patients', 'Participants', 'people'] @entity73 :: ('MESH:D003072', 'Disease') :: ['cognitive decline', 'MCI', 'mild cognitive impairment'] @entity51 :: ('MESH:D009461', 'Disease') :: ['complex language deficits'] @entity195 :: ('MESH:D000544', 'Disease') :: ["Alzheimer's disease"]
@entity73 :: (MESH:D003072,Disease) :: ['mild cognitive impairment']
