Divided attention and metabolic brain dysfunction in mild dementia of the Alzheimer's type.
The relationship between reaction time (RT) measures under single-task and dual-task conditions and resting levels of brain metabolism, as measured by positron emission tomography (PET), was examined in patients with mild dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and age- and educationally-matched controls. Slowing of RT in dual-task but not single-task conditions correlated with reductions in brain metabolism in right premotor and right parietal association areas only for the mild DAT patients. The results suggest a relation between divided attention deficits and metabolic dysfunction of right frontal and parietal lobes in mild DAT patients.
Nestor
P G
PG
Department of Psychology, Catholic University of America.
Parasuraman
R
R
Haxby
J V
JV
Grady
C L
CL
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011930:Reaction Time; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed