How subtle shifts in Terry Pratchett’s writing hinted at dementia years before his diagnosis, new study reveals

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by The Conversation, click this post to read the original article.

When it comes to spotting dementia early, you might not notice dramatic signs like memory loss at first. Instead, the earliest indicators can be subtle changes in language—like using fewer descriptive words or repeating similar phrases. Researchers recently studied this through the works of Sir Terry Pratchett, the acclaimed author of the Discworld series. Even before his diagnosis of a rare form of Alzheimer’s, his writing showed a gradual decline in vocabulary diversity—particularly in his use of adjectives. These changes were statistically significant and appeared nearly ten years before his official diagnosis.

You probably wouldn’t notice these shifts as a casual reader, as Pratchett’s books continued to entertain and inspire. But when experts analyzed his work closely, they found this decline began with his book The Last Continent. Since language is closely tied to how your brain functions, even minor changes in how someone writes or speaks could reflect deeper cognitive shifts happening long before other symptoms appear.

That’s why this research matters. Detecting dementia in its early, “preclinical” phase is one of the biggest challenges in treatment. While language analysis isn’t a diagnostic tool on its own, it could be part of a broader, more proactive approach. If you combine it with cognitive tests and medical imaging, it may help catch warning signs early—when treatments and interventions are most effective.

Today, with so much communication happening through emails, messages, and online posts, you’re already generating language data that could one day help detect early signs of cognitive decline. As new drugs emerge to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, early detection gives you and your loved ones a better chance to prepare, adapt, and act.

Terry Pratchett’s legacy doesn’t end with his storytelling. Through the linguistic footprints found in his work, he’s still contributing to our understanding of dementia and helping us explore how subtle changes in everyday language could provide powerful insights into brain health.