Prospective Memory Intervention in Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Four individuals with Alzheimer's disease were trained to remember and to implement an intention for future action. The training program utilized the spaced-retrieval method, which involves active attempts to recall information over expanding intervals of time. All participants learned to select a colored coupon from an array of distractors and offer it to the experimenter after a week's delay. Following one-week retention of the initial task, a different coupon became the new training target. All participants were able to shift to this new task requirement, and all learned three successive coupon colors successfully. These results indicate that individuals with Alzheimer's disease can learn a prospective memory task using spaced-retrieval practice and can make adjustments for changing task requirements.

Spaced Retrieval Significantly Improves Prospective Memory Performance of Cognitively Impaired Older Adults

“…Its effectiveness as a method of facilitating memory function has been variously attributed to the effects of priming, operant conditioning, classical conditioning, and errorless learning [3] , but there is a general consensus that at least some of the effects of spaced retrieval are attributable to its reliance on automatic processing [3][4][5] . Different cognitive processes are subject to different rates and degrees of decline in both dementia and MCI, and whilst controlled cognitive processing is substantially affected, automatic processing is relatively preserved [6] .…”

“…However, although most evidence indicates that spaced retrieval is an effective means of improving retrospective memory in cognitively impaired older adults, only two studies to date have assessed whether this intervention also enhances PM [5,7] . Further, whilst the results from these initial studies are consistent with the possibility that spaced retrieval may confer PM gains, both were limited by the use of a single response PM task where performance could not be discriminated beyond correct or incorrect on a one-off trial.…”

Prospective and retrospective memory in normal aging and dementia: An experimental study

“…Anecdotal evidence suggests that people initially consult their doctors because of their relatives' PM rather than RM problems (e.g., Camp, Foss, Stevens, & O'Hanlon, 1996;McKitrick, Camp, & Black, 1992). From a recent questionnaire study by Smith, Della Sala, Logie, and Maylor (2000), it would appear that this is because patients' PM failures are more frustrating to carers (although no more prevalent) than are their RM failures.…”

Aromas of <i>Salvia</i> Species Enhance Everyday Prospective Memory Performance in Healthy Young Adults

“…alcohol and recreational drug use might impact upon PM, with a general consensus that substance use impairs both subjective ratings [21] [22] and objective performance [23] even when subjective self-assessment records no decrements [24] [25]. However, little or no research has addressed the potential to improve performance on PM tasks, with that which has focussing on behavioural [26] and psychosocial interventions [27]. Given the lack of research in the area, the current study aims to assess the effects of Salvia officinalis and Salvia lavandulaefolia essential oil aromas on an objective video based measure of prospective memory performance.…”