Assessment of working-memory deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s dementia using Wechsler’s Working Memory Index

Background and aims: Although episodic memory deficits are a hallmark in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), little attention has been paid so far to the ability to maintain and manipulate information during a brief period of time, i.e. working memory. In this study, we ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aging clinical and experimental research 2011-10, Vol.23 (5-6), p.487-490
Main Authors: Kessels, Roy P. C., Molleman, Pieter W., Oosterman, Joukje M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alzheimer Disease - psychology
Alzheimer's disease
Cognition Disorders - psychology
Cognitive ability
Dementia
Female
Geriatrics/Gerontology
Humans
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Memory
Memory Disorders - psychology
Memory, Short-Term
Short Communication
Wechsler Scales
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Summary:Background and aims: Although episodic memory deficits are a hallmark in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), little attention has been paid so far to the ability to maintain and manipulate information during a brief period of time, i.e. working memory. In this study, we examine verbal working memory in both cognitively unimpaired older people and MCI and AD patients. Methods: Seventy-five participants were examined with either no cognitive impairment (n=25), MCI (n=25) or AD (n=25). Working memory was investigated with Wechsler’s Working Memory Index tests (Digit Span, Letter-Number Sequencing and Arithmetic). Results: Both MCI and AD patients performed worse on all three working-memory tests compared with controls, the subtest Letter-Number Sequencing also revealing worse performance in AD compared with MCI patients. Conclusions: Working-memory deficits are already present in MCI patients and worsen in AD patients, suggesting that working memory should be assessed as part of neuropsychological testing.
ISSN:1594-0667
1720-8319
DOI:10.1007/BF03325245