CERAD Praxis Memory and Recognition in Relation to Other Measures of Memory

Abstract

Free Recall and Recognition memory of the CERAD (The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease) Constructional Praxis task is investigated as adjunctive nonverbal memory measures to the CERAD Neuropsychological battery. Participants were administered an expanded CERAD neuropsychological battery which included Free Recall of the Constructional Praxis task. Significant correlations were observed between the Constructional Praxis Free Recall and both memory and visuospatial measures, however, correlations with memory measures were significantly higher. Constructional Praxis Free Recall was a significant predictor of diagnosis resulting in high sensitivity and specificity for patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (n = 88) versus Normal Controls (n = 83) with an overall hit rate of 88%. Results suggest that the Constructional Praxis Free Recall procedure is a useful addition to the CERAD neuropsychological battery. Normative data for clinical use is presented for Constructional Praxis Free Recall, as well as a Constructional Praxis Recognition memory procedure which was administered to a subsample of the normal group.