Memory for new information as a cognitive marker of liability to Alzheimer's disease in a high risk group: a research note

Abstract

Background: The development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is often insidious and there is evidence that pre-morbid neuropsychological deficits exist.

Objectives: To examine aspects of neuropsychological performance as cognitive markers in a group at high risk of developing AD.

Methods: Memory for novel information and verbal fluency were examined in 33 unaffected biological siblings of patients who fulfilled criteria for probable AD, and 22 controls who reported no family history of dementia.

Results: Comparisons between siblings and controls revealed significant differences on overall memory performance. This was also the case when siblings were grouped according to whether or not they possessed the apoE epsilon 4 allele. There were no significant differences between siblings and controls on verbal fluency measures.

Conclusions: Detailed measures of memory performance may be clinically useful in groups at a high risk of developing AD. However, further longitudinal research in such high-risk groups is needed before conclusions can be made with confidence.