Intermediate
Technical
IVT
bradyphrenia
Pronunciation: brad-ee-FREE-nee-uh
Slowness of thought processes and mental responses, often seen in subcortical dementias.
Full Definition
Bradyphrenia refers to a marked slowing of cognitive processing speed, particularly evident in thinking, reasoning, and responding to questions. It is characteristic of subcortical dementias such as those seen in Parkinson disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and Huntington disease. Unlike aphasia, language structure remains intact, but the speed of mental operations is significantly reduced.
Usage
Usage note: Emphasize that this refers to speed of thinking rather than language or memory deficits.
In Context
- "The patient exhibited marked bradyphrenia, taking several minutes to respond to simple questions." — Neuropsychological assessment
- "Bradyphrenia is a hallmark of subcortical cognitive impairment patterns." — Research paper
Also known as
psychomotor slowing
Contrasted with
tachyphrenia
Don't confuse with
aphasia
dementia
depression