Prospective memory disorder in patients with Alzheimer' s disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the event-based prospective memory (EBPM) and time-based prospective memory (TBPM) in patients with Alzheimer' s disease (AD). Methods Twenty patients with AD, 20 adults with amnesia mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and 30 healthy adults with matched age and education level were assessed with a battery of neuropsychological tests including EBPM and TBPM tasks.Results Compared with healthy elders and patients with aMCI on performance of PM (2. 23 + 0. 77,4.83 ±1.09;1.00±1.03,3. 10 ± 1.52) and episodic memory(0. 70 ±0. 12,0.66 +0. 16;0.45 ±0.07,0.54±0. 10), AD patients were all impaired in PM and episodic memory(0.20 +0.41,2.05 ± 1.43;0.33±0. 12,0.32±0. 10), and were impaired in EBPM more significantly (t=-2.792, P＜0.01;t =-10. 761 ,P ＜0. 01 ). Conclusions These results suggest that AD patients show deficits of PM, but their EBPM is impaired more significantly. EBPM impairment may be an early diagnostic of AD. Key words: Alzheimer disease; Memory disorders; Neuropsychological tests