A neural model of memory impairment in diffuse cerebral atrophy.
BACKGROUND
Computer-supported neural network models have been subjected to diffuse, progressive deletion of synapses/neurons, to show that modelling cerebral neuropathological changes can predict the pattern of memory degradation in diffuse degenerative processes such as Alzheimer's disease. However, it has been suggested that neural models cannot account for more detailed aspects of memory impairment, such as the relative sparing of remote versus recent memories.


METHODS
The latter claim is examined from a computational perspective, using a neural associative memory model.


RESULTS
The neural network model not only demonstrates progressive memory deterioration as diffuse network damage occurs, but also exhibits differential sparing of remote versus recent memories.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that neural models can account for a large variety of experimental phenomena characterising memory degradation in Alzheimer's patients. Specific testable predictions are generated concerning the relation between the neuraonatomical findings and the clinical manifestations of Alzheimer's disease.
Ruppin
E
E
Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park 20742.
Reggia
J A
JA
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000502:physiology; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology