title: The role of selective attention in the visuo-spatial memory of patients suffering from dementia of the Alzheimer type.
abstract: The visuo-spatial memories of groups of dements suffering from Alzheimer's disease (DAT) and multi-infarct dementia (MID) were compared with those of low-IQ but non-dementing elderly volunteers. In contrast to the other two groups, the DAT subjects were hindered when extra visual information was available as a memory aid. Similarly, DAT subjects' performance on a visual search task was worsened when the displays were made more varied. The concept that DAT patients' visuo-spatial memory problems may be due to a failure of selective attention is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Age & Cognitive Performance Research Centre, University of Manchester, England.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Stuart-Hamilton
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rabbitt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huddy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014796:Visual Perception