Working Memory and Learning in Early Alzheimer’s Disease

Authors: Germano, Carmela¹; Kinsella, Glynda²

Source: Neuropsychology Review, Volume 15, Number 1, March 2005 , pp. 1-10(10)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Cognitive deficits associated with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been recently operationalised in terms of an acquisition deficit and the research supporting this view is presented. However, there is still debate concerning the nature of this deficit and how underlying cognitive processes may be detrimentally affecting the ability to acquire new information in early AD. This review argues that the pattern of cognitive deficits contributing to the acquisition impairment in early AD patients may be readily interpreted within the context of a working memory model. Isolating the component processes of working memory that underlie the acquisition deficit in early AD patients will aid in the design of clinical applications that are focussed at enhancing the ability to acquire new information in everyday life.

Keywords: early Alzheimer’s disease; working memory; learning; acquisition

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11065-005-3583-7

Affiliations: 1: School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia, 2: School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia, Email: g.kinsella@latrobe.edu.au

Publication date: 2005-03-01