The history of speech prosody as a biomarker: Insights from three decades of speech communication research

This study provides a historical perspective on the evolution of speech prosody analysis in dementia research, situating it within the broader history of speech communication research. Using text mining, we systematically reviewed 30 years of scholarly publications to map key trends, thematic shifts, and milestones in this interdisciplinary field. Our findings document the trajectory from foundational work in speech science and communication to the recent surge in interest, particularly since 2020, fueled by technological innovation and growing clinical needs. The results reveal how advances in speech communication have directly shaped new, non-invasive approaches to dementia detection, demonstrating the lasting impact of the field’s research legacy. By tracing these developments, this study not only synthesizes the historical landscape but also illustrates the central role of speech communication research in addressing contemporary health challenges. Our analysis underscores the value of continued interdisciplinary collaboration and reaffirms the importance of historical reflection for guiding future innovation. This work is well-suited to contribute to the special session on the history of speech communication research.