Estimation of Short Temporal Intervals in Alzheimer's Disease

• Published in: Experimental aging research Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 139 - 151
• Main Author: Carmen Carrasco, M. Jesus Guillem, Rosa Redolat, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Informa UK Ltd 01.04.2000; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Aged; Alzheimer Disease - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Female; Geriatrics; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Prospective Studies; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Reference Values; Time Perception; Human; Nervous system diseases; Cognitive disorder; Alzheimer disease; Central nervous system disease; Attention; Degenerative disease; Time interval; Elderly; Cerebral disorder; Time perception
• ISSN: 0361-073X; 1096-4657
• DOI: 10.1080/036107300243605

This study investigated the estimation of short temporal intervals in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Eight patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type, and eight age-matched controls were evaluated in a time estimation task. The task consisted in the production of three short empty intervals (5, 10, and 25's). Results indicated that AD patients show deficits both in the accuracy and precision of time judgments: in the three intervals evaluated, the magnitude of absolute error and the variability in time judgments were significantly greater in AD patients than healthy respondents (p <.01). These findings are discussed taking into account the contribution of attentional processes during the performance of temporal tasks. It is concluded that the estimation of short temporal intervals could be useful as an objective indicator of cognitive decline in AD.