The impact of age and Alzheimer's disease risk factors on memory performance over time. (February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaiser, Natalie C; Miller, Karen J; Siddarth, Prabha; Ercoli, Linda M; Small, Gary W
• Is Part Of: Aging health. Volume 9:Number 1(2013)
• Page Start: 115
• Page End: 124
• Publication Date: 2013-02
• Subjects: aging -- APOE-4 -- dementia -- family history -- neuropsychology -- verbal memory; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97005
• DOI: 10.2217/ahe.12.77
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-509X

Abstract

Aim: To identify early neurocognitive markers in individuals with a risk for developing Alzheimer's disease by virtue of a family history of Alzheimer's disease or APOE-4 carrier status.Materials & methods: A longitudinal design was implemented to examine verbal memory performance (i.e., list learning and story memory) in 21 healthy, nonimpaired individuals.Results: A statistically significant age by risk-factor interaction effect was observed for both total recall and long-term storage of the Buschke Selective Reminding Test. Participants with a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease exhibited a significant decline in performance with increasing age in contrast to participants without a risk factor.Conclusion: These findings extend the understanding of how the combination of multiple risk factors may contribute to early memory decline in healthy, nonimpaired individuals and can help inform early intervention efforts.