Abstract
ObjectivesBy use of purer indices of PM and RM components than previous studies and adoption of three PM task types, the present study aimed to investigate the deficits of these two components underlying global impairment at a PM task in individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).MethodsNineteen aMCI patients and 22 normal controls were examined on event-, time- and activity-based PM tasks. Separate scores were obtained for initiation of intentions (i.e. PM component) and for the content of the intentions (i.e. RM component).ResultsIndividuals with aMCI achieved lower PM component (but not RM component) scores than NCs across all three PM tasks. Furthermore, there was a trend for greater impairment on activity-based than time-based and event-based PM tasks, but which did not reach significance. In addition, a significant association between PM component and an executive function test was observed in aMCI group. PM task performance, especially activity-based PM task performance and PM component performance, successfully discriminated between aMCI and NC and was able to do so above and beyond the executive function tests.ConclusionsOur finding suggested that the deficits in PM component, related to a disrupted executive control processes, were responsible for the impaired ability of individuals with aMCI to realize delayed intentions.
Highlights
Prospective memory (PM) refers to remembering to carry out intentions at an appropriate time point in the future [1,2]
It has been generally accepted that two distinct cognitive components were critical for successful prospective remembering: (1) a purer prospective memory (PM) component, which referred to the ability to track the target event or monitor the time to self-initiate intended responses and relied on executive function to implement planning, selfinitiation, task switching, and inhibition, and (2) a retrospective memory (RM) component, which relied on declarative memory to facilitate the encoding, retention and recall of the content of the intentions and the target time or event [14,15]
Group effects on PM and RM components Across all types of tasks, the Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) group ranked significantly lower than normal control (NC) participants on PM component scores [Mean ranks were 14.16 and 26.91, respectively, (1, N = 41) = 12.08, p < .01, Cohen’s d = -1.30]
Summary
Prospective memory (PM) refers to remembering to carry out intentions at an appropriate time point in the future [1,2]. It is usually assessed by requiring the participant to perform a specified action either upon the occurrence of a specified event (i.e. an event-based PM task) or after a certain amount of time has elapsed (i.e. a time-based PM task) while the participant is engaged in ongoing activity. The aMCI group performed worse than controls even though they remembered the instructions, suggesting aMCI subjects failed to realize the intention despite normal declarative memory of the intention itself. It has been generally accepted that two distinct cognitive components were critical for successful prospective remembering: (1) a purer prospective memory (PM) component, which referred to the ability to track the target event or monitor the time to self-initiate intended responses and relied on executive function to implement planning, selfinitiation, task switching, and inhibition, and (2) a retrospective memory (RM) component, which relied on declarative memory to facilitate the encoding, retention and recall of the content of the intentions and the target time or event [14,15]
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