Abstract
In this study, four types of behavior related to dementia were examined and classified into two categories; 1) an information processing component including responses and gestures and 2) a component, including pause time and eye contact, based on convention-dependent aspects of automatic processing and not related to the symbolic functions of language. Forty-five institutionalized, demented individuals were categorized on the basis of their performance on MMSE, into profound, severe, and moderate groups. On the basis of eight different interviews with the individuals, this study analyzed the appropriateness of the individuals' behaviors and the degree to which the four types of behavior were preserved. The main findings were as follows. Within the profound group, responses were the most significantly vulnerable to deterioration. Pause time was relatively preserved and also performed independently of response. Bowing was observed in greetings that were categorized as gestures. Other gestures, however, were rarely present. Eye contact was preserved. In conclusion, the profoundly demented elderly failed to maintain the information processing component language use but retains the convention-dependent aspects of automatic processing.
