About the relationship between basic numerical processing and arithmetics in early Alzheimer's disease--a follow-up study.
We studied the relationship between basic numerical knowledge and arithmetics (facts and procedures) in early Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In most patients, basic numerical knowledge was found to be preserved, as reflected by low error rates, distance effect in number comparison, and subitizing in naming numerosities. However, within arithmetics, AD patients exhibited decreased fact and procedural knowledge. Interestingly, double dissociations were found not only between facts and procedures but also between basic numerical knowledge and arithmetics. Thus, our results suggest that basic numerical knowledge need not be a prerequisite for the maintenance of arithmetics, but rather corroborate calculation models that postulate the functional independence of its components. Further, we found patient specific error types which might serve to identify early AD. The follow-up about one year later indicated significant qualitative, but only marginal quantitative performance changes.
Kaufmann
Liane
L
University Clinic Innsbruck, Austria. kaufmann.lackner@aon.at
Montanes
Patricia
P
Jacquier
Martine
M
Matallana
Diana
D
Eibl
Günther
G
Delazer
Margarete
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time; D012720:Severity of Illness Index