AGING AND REPRESENTATION OF LANGUAGE IN T HE BRAIN

Some characteristics of acquired aphasias during adulthood - frequency , severity, type of aphasia - would change with aging. In particular, Wernicke's aphasia patients are repeatedly reported to be older than B roca's. Several hypotheses are proposed to account for these age-relat ed changes. One of the explanations puts forward hypothetical changes in the neural substrate with aging. A second hypothesis refers to the involvement of cognitive and behavioral changes occurring in elderly. A third one claims that changes in functional distribution of language in brain (between hemispheres and within left hemisphere) may occur w ith aging.