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Longitudinal analysis of a two-component model of the memory deficit in Alzheimer's disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

James T. Becker ,
Olurotimi Bajulaiye  and
Christine Smith
James T. Becker*
Affiliation:
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Olurotimi Bajulaiye
Affiliation:
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Christine Smith
Affiliation:
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr James T. Becker, Neuropsychology Research Program, Suite 502 – Iroquois Building, 3600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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Synopsis

The memory deficit in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been characterized as consisting of multiple components. The purpose of this study was to confirm the utility of a two-process model, and to examine changes in the nature and extent of the neuropsychological deficits after a one-year interval. The results replicate the initial observation that the memory loss in AD can be described as consisting of a focal amnesic syndrome and a dysexecutive syndrome characterized by failure of rapid information processing and search of both episodic and semantic memory. One year after the initial observation, all dysexecutive patients and the majority of the amnesic patients had become non-focal. No patient developed a dysexecutive syndrome, but 18 patients developed amnesic syndromes. These results suggest that, like other aspects of the cognitive deficits of AD, the memory loss is multifactorial. These results have implications for understanding the pathophysiology of AD, and for designing pharmacotherapeutic intervention.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , May 1992 , pp. 437 - 445
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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