Episodic Memory in Alzheimer's Disease
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Questions and Answers

What is the earliest sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD) often associated with?

  • Language difficulties
  • Visual hallucinations
  • Combativeness
  • Forgetfulness (correct)

    • In terms of memory deficits, Alzheimer’s disease primarily affects what aspect of memory formation?

  • The emotional context of memories
  • The formation of memory traces (correct)
  • The visual recall of memories
  • The retrieval of information only

    • How does the performance in free recall compare to recognition in individuals with Alzheimer's disease?

  • Both have equal performance
  • Free recall is easier than recognition
  • There is no significant difference
  • Recognition is easier than free recall (correct)

    • Which structure in the brain is primarily linked to memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease?

    <p>Hippocampus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What might happen to individuals with Alzheimer's disease regarding memory performance several years before diagnosis?

    <p>There is a decline in memory performance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What brain areas show shrinkage in patients with early signs of Alzheimer's disease?

    <p>Anterior, inferior, and medial temporal lobes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In recall and recognition tasks, how do individuals with Alzheimer's disease typically perform compared to healthy individuals?

    <p>They show greater impairment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the presence of atrophy in the hippocampus signify regarding Alzheimer's disease?

    <p>It is associated with memory deficits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of memory is most affected during the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)?

    <p>Episodic memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which lobe is primarily responsible for semantic processing and language production?

    <p>Temporal lobe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What task is used to assess category fluency in patients?

    <p>Name as many animals as possible in 1 minute</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In Alzheimer's Disease, atrophy of which two lobes is commonly linked to language deficits?

    <p>Anterior temporal lobe and inferior frontal lobe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of task do Alzheimer's patients struggle with specifically due to impaired executive functions?

    <p>Dual-task conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What behavioral symptom is associated with apathy in Alzheimer's Disease?

    <p>Lack of interest in life</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which brain area remains unaffected in the later stages of Alzheimer's Disease, allowing for basic sensory functions?

    <p>Primary sensory and motor areas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What common misperception might occur in Alzheimer's patients based on intact sensory functions?

    <p>Talking to the TV</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a symptom of executive dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease?

    <p>Enhanced decision-making ability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Iris Murdoch exhibited difficulties in which cognitive area during her struggle with Alzheimer's Disease?

    <p>Memory recall of story details</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Episodic Memory in Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

    • Episodic memory involves remembering recent events.
    • Different areas of brain atrophy are linked to specific deficits.
    • Early signs of AD often include forgetfulness and difficulty remembering recent events.
    • Moderate AD can lead to disorientation and wandering behavior.
    • The hippocampus, located in the temporal lobes, plays a critical role in episodic memory.
    • Atrophy in the hippocampus is associated with memory impairments in AD.
    • Recall relies on finding relevant memory traces, recognition relies on cues.
    • AD damages memory trace formation, impacting both recall and recognition.
    • Episodic memory problems can appear several years before AD diagnosis.
    • Studies show reduced performance on recall and recognition tasks in pre-AD individuals compared to healthy controls, detectable up to 6 years before diagnosis.
    • Atrophy is observed in the anterior, inferior, and medial temporal lobes, including the hippocampus, before diagnosis.

    Semantic Memory and Language in AD

    • The left hemisphere is dominant for language processing.
    • The anterior temporal lobe and inferior frontal lobe are key for word understanding and production.
    • Atrophy in these areas leads to semantic and language deficits in AD.
    • Category fluency tasks (e.g., naming animals) show impairment in AD, often affecting less frequently used words.
    • Naming of objects and spelling are affected.
    • Damage correlates with thinning in the left anterior temporal lobe, similar to the pattern found in semantic dementia.
    • TMS studies support the link between anterior temporal lobe activity and semantic tasks in AD.

    Executive Functions and AD

    • Frontal lobes are essential for controlling thought and behavior (executive function).
    • AD patients struggle with concentration, decision-making, and complex planning.
    • AD patients experience specific impairment in tasks demanding coordination of multiple activities (dual-task conditions).
    • Dual-task performance declines progressively in AD patients.

    Personality Changes in AD

    • Behavioral symptoms include irritability, agitation, outbursts, restlessness, pacing, and repetitive behaviors.
    • Apathy (lack of interest) is also common, associated with atrophy in the orbitofrontal cortex and frontal lobe.

    Sensory and Motor Functions in AD

    • Primary sensory and motor areas of the brain remain unaffected in AD.
    • Individuals can see, hear, and move but with deficits in higher-level processing.
    • This can lead to misperceptions and difficulties with everyday tasks.

    Case of Iris Murdoch

    • Likely developed AD in late 1980s/early 1990s and died in 1999.
    • High educational attainment did not protect her from AD.
    • MMSE scores show progressively declining cognitive function, highlighting marked memory impairment.
    • Murdoch showed deficits in recalling story details, faces, names, and associating book titles with characters.
    • Significant impairment in object naming and spelling.

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    Description

    Explore the intricacies of episodic memory and its connection to Alzheimer's Disease. This quiz delves into the role of the hippocampus, the impact of brain atrophy on memory, and early symptoms of AD. Test your understanding of how episodic memory functions and deteriorates in the context of Alzheimer's.

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