Memory for new information as a cognitive marker of liability to Alzheimer's disease in a high risk group: a research note.
BACKGROUND
The development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is often insidious and there is evidence that pre-morbid neuropsychological deficits exist.


OBJECTIVE
To examine aspects of neuropsychological performance as cognitive markers in a group at high risk of developing AD.


METHODS
Memory for novel information and verbal fluency were examined in 33 unaffected biological siblings of patients who fulfilled criteria for probable AD, and 22 controls who reported no family history of dementia.


RESULTS
Comparisons between siblings and controls revealed significant differences on overall memory performance. This was also the case when siblings were grouped according to whether or not they possessed the apoE epsilon 4 allele. There were no significant differences between siblings and controls on verbal fluency measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Detailed measures of memory performance may be clinically useful in groups at a high risk of developing AD. However, further longitudinal research in such high-risk groups is needed before conclusions can be made with confidence.
Rice
Frances
F
Department of Psychological Medicine, 4th Floor, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, UK. Ricef@cardiff.ac.uk
Abraham
Richard
R
Rudrasingham
Varuni
V
Owen
Michael J
MJ
Williams
Julie
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D014705:Verbal Behavior
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E