In order to investigate the status of remote memory the
Autobiographical Memory Interview (AMI) was administered
to 30 individuals with advanced multiple sclerosis
(MS). In contrast to earlier studies which have shown only mild
deficits in autobiographical memory in those with less physical
progression of the disease, about two-thirds (60%) of the present
MS sample had a deficit in autobiographical memory. The presence
of such a deficit was not related to age, age of onset, duration
of illness, or level of physical disability, but was related
to level of general cognitive ability. Memory for episodic
autobiographical incidents was more affected than for personal
semantic information; a temporal gradient typical of some dementing
conditions but not before demonstrated in MS, was also observed
with memory for more recent events showing a significant decline.
(JINS, 2002, 8, 855–860.)