Verbal learning and memory deficits in Mild Cognitive Impairment

• Published in: Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 187 - 197
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, F., Guerreiro, M., De Mendonça, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 01.02.2007; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition Disorders - complications; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Female; Geriatrics; Humans; Learning Disorders - etiology; Learning Disorders - psychology; Male; Medical sciences; Memory Disorders - etiology; Memory Disorders - psychology; Mental Recall - physiology; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Organic mental disorders. Neuropsychology; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Recognition (Psychology) - physiology; Semantics; Verbal Learning - physiology; Human; Verbal memory; Memory disorder; Verbal learning; Acquisition process; Cognitive disorder; Language; Learning disability; mild cognitive impairment; Elderly
• ISSN: 1380-3395; 1744-411X
• DOI: 10.1080/13803390600629775

Criteria for amnestic MCI rely on the use of delayed recall tasks to establish the presence of memory impairment. This study applied the California Verbal Learning Test to detail memory performance in MCI patients (n = 70), as compared to control subjects (n = 92) and AD patients (n = 21). Learning across the 5 trials was different among the 3 groups. Learning strategy was also different, the MCI group showing less semantic clustering than the control group. However, both MCI patients and controls could benefit from semantic cueing. This study showed that beyond consolidation deficits, MCI patients have marked difficulties in acquisition and recall strategies.