The serial position effect in mild and moderately severe vascular dementia.
The present study examined the serial position effect in 2 subgroups of individuals with vascular dementia (VaD). Nineteen individuals with mild VaD and 17 individuals with moderate VaD were administered the California Verbal Learning Test. Both groups were impaired on a general memory measure, and the moderately impaired group demonstrated significantly poorer recall than the mildly impaired group on the first learning trial and on total learning across trials. In addition, individuals with mild dementia demonstrated an intact primacy and recency effect, whereas individuals with moderate dementia demonstrated neither primacy nor recency effects. The latter findings are consistent with studies examining the serial position effect in other dementia populations, and suggests that the absence of primacy and recency effects in more advanced dementia may occur regardless of dementia type.
Paul
Robert H
RH
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island 20906, USA. Rpaul@lifespan.org
Cohen
Ronald A
RA
Moser
David J
DJ
Zawacki
Tricia M
TM
Gordon
Norman
N
D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D018697:Nootropic Agents; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline