Accelerated long-term forgetting in neurodegenerative disorders: A systematic review of the literature. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rodini, Marta; De Simone, Maria Stefania; Caltagirone, Carlo; Carlesimo, Giovanni Augusto
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 141(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Accelerated long-term forgetting -- Accelerated early-term forgetting -- Memory consolidation -- Neurodegenerative disorders -- Alzheimer's disease; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104815
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Abstract: Accelerated Long-term Forgetting (ALF) is a memory deficit characterised by normal retention up to relatively short intervals (e.g., minutes, hours) with increased forgetting over longer periods (e.g., days, weeks). ALF is often underestimated due to a lack of common memory assessments beyond 30–60 min. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of ALF occurrence in neurodegenerative disorders, evaluating whether it can be considered a cognitive deficit useful for diagnosing and monitoring patients. We included 19 experimental studies that investigated ALF in neurodegenerative disorders. Most papers were focused on Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia and related forms of cognitive decline (Mild Cognitive Impairment, Subjective Cognitive decline, Pre-symptomatic subjects at risk of AD dementia). The major finding of the present work concerns the presence of ALF in very early forms of cognitive decline related to AD. These findings, supporting the hypothesis that ALF is a subtle and undetected hallmark of pre-clinical AD, highlights the importance of investigating forgetting over a longer period and devising standardised measures to be included in clinical practice. Highlights: Accelerated Long-term Forgetting occurs beyond standard intervals commonly used. Among neurodegenerative disorders, most studies focused on Alzheimer's disease. Subjects at risk of Alzheimer's disease had a greater forgetting at longer delays. Accelerated Long-term Forgetting is a likely early marker of Alzheimer's disease, present at very early stages.