A Preliminary Exploration of the Stability of Music- and Photo-Evoked Autobiographical Memories in People with Alzheimer’s and Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia

Abstract

Music evoked autobiographical memories (MEAMs) occur in people with Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), but there is limited study of such memories in people with other dementia types such as behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (Bv-FTD). Furthermore, there has been no study of the integrity of such memories over time, and scarce comparison with other memory cues such as photos. Our aim was to address this current gap in our knowledge and to characterize MEAMs and photo-evoked autobiographical memories (PEAMs) in healthy elderly people and people with AD and Bv-FTD on two occasions, 6 months apart. Twenty-two participants (7 with AD, 6 with Bv-FTD, and 9 healthy elderly people) reported memories following exposure to two famous songs and two famous event photographs from each decade from 1930–2010 on two occasions. All people with AD and all healthy elderly controls reported at least one MEAM or PEAM at both times. In contrast, two people with Bv-FTD reported no memories at either time. The percentage of memories over time for songs and photos remained stable for the Healthy Elderly and AD groups, whilst the percentage of memories to songs increased over time for people with Bv-FTD. Songs elicited more positive memories than photos. The specific music and photo stimuli that triggered memories, and the topic of the memories that were evoked, remained stable over a 6-month period across all groups. Our results suggest that music and photos are efficient memory cues in people with AD and Bv-FTD. Future large-scale studies of people with different dementia types over a longer time period will provide insights into the integrity of music- and photo-evoked autobiographical memories as dementia progresses.

Music evokes fewer but more positive autobiographical memories than emotionally matched sound and word cues.

“…“It is extraordinary how music sends one back into memories of the past.” This quote from author Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin (known as George Sand) exemplifies the widespread belief that music is somehow “special” in its ability to conjure up memories and associated feelings from our lives. This idea has been partially supported by research showing that music can evoke qualitatively different autobiographical memories than other types of retrieval cues in both healthy and clinical populations (Baird et al, 2018, 2020; Belfi et al, 2016, 2020; El Haj et al, 2012; Jakubowski et al, 2021; Zator & Katz, 2017). The present work aims to critically examine the extent to which these differences between music-evoked autobiographical memories (MEAMs) and other autobiographical memories emerge in healthy adults, specifically by taking into account emotional features of the retrieval cues as a potential factor that may drive differences in memory accessibility and content.…”

Change in the psychological self in people living with dementia: A scoping review

“…were presented in both settings, with notably more autobiographical memories been recalled in the museum setting (Miles et al, 2013). Finally, sensory evoked autobiographical memories seem to be particularly benefited from cues derived from one's young adulthood (e.g., Baird et al, 2018;Baird et al, 2020;Rasmussen et al, 2021). These studies provide evidence that autobiographical memory performance might benefit from ecologically valid methods.…”

“…Indeed, deteriorated autobiographical memory performance in people with dementia has been demonstrated by the majority of studies, with findings showing a diminished capacity to recall and produce specific past personal episodes (Barnabe et al, 2012;El Haj et al, 2017;El Haj & Antoine, 2020;Irish et al, 2018 ;Irish et al, 2011b;Benjamin et al, 2015;De Simone et al, 2016;Donix et al, 2010;Baird et al, 2020;Kirk & Berntsen, 2018a;Kirk & Berntsen, 2018b;Leyhe et al, 2009;Liechti et al, 2019;El Haj et al, 2022a;Meulenbroek et al, 2010;Viard et al, 2013;Rauchs et al, 2013;Philippi et al, 2012;Philippi et al, 2015;Baird et al, 2018;Berntsen et al, 2022;Muller et al, 2016;Caddell & Clare, 2012;El Haj et al, 2015d;El Haj & Allain, 2020;El Haj & Antoine, 2017b;Addis et al, 2009;El Haj et al, 2019b;El Haj et al, 2020b;El Haj et al, 2016;Jetten et al, 2010;Martinelli et al, 2013 ;Rathbone et al, 2019;Maguire et al, 2010). In one case study, autobiographical memory performance progressed from intact to significantly deteriorated within 3 years (Maguire et al, 2010), while in another longitudinal study autobiographical memory performance was mostly the same in a 1-year follow-up, with specific disruptions in performance of personal semantic memory (Irish et al, 2018).…”

The cognitive characteristics of music‐evoked autobiographical memories: Evidence from a systematic review of clinical investigations

“…Baird, Gelding, et al (2020) had a similar design to Baird et al (2018), and investigated the stability of the performance 6 months apart in seven participants with AD, six participants with bv‐FTD, and nine healthy age‐matched controls. They found that the same stimuli tended to evoke memories at both points, with no differences in controls and AD.…”