Attention deficits in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Issue 2 (9th February 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McGuinness, Bernadette; Barrett, Suzanne L; Craig, David; Lawson, John; Passmore, A Peter
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 81:Issue 2(2010)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 159
• Publication Date: 2010-02-09
• Subjects: Attention -- Alzheimer's disease -- information processing -- reaction time -- vascular dementia; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2008.164483
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To compare the performance of patients with mild–moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) on tests of information processing and attention. Method: Patients with AD (n=75) and VaD (n=46) were recruited from a memory clinic along with dementia-free participants (n=28). They underwent specific tests of attention from the Cognitive Drug Research battery, and pen and paper tests including Colour Trails A and B and Stroop. All patients had a CT brain scan that was independently scored for white-matter change/ischaemia. Results: Attention was impaired in both AD and VaD patients. VaD patients had more impaired choice reaction times and were less accurate on a vigilance test measuring sustained attention. Deficits in selective and divided attention occurred in both patient groups and showed the strongest correlations with Mini Mental State Examination scores. Conclusion: This study demonstrates problems with the attentional network in mild–moderate AD and VaD. The authors propose that attention should be tested routinely in a memory clinic setting.