[Memory monitoring in mild cognitive impairment].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the profile of changes of memory monitoring in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).


METHODS
Rey- auditory verbal learning test (AVLT) and feeling-of-knowing (FOK) test in episodic memory (EM) and semantic memory (SM) were conducted on 30 MCI patients, 17 males and 13 females, aged (66 +/- 9), and 30 age, education level, word fluency test, and digit span-matched healthy persons as healthy control (HC) group.


RESULTS
The EM impairment of the MCI group was (13.7 +/- 2.8), significantly higher than that of the HC group [(8.1 +/- 2.0), P < 0.01], but the SM impairment of the MCI group was (5.4 +/- 1.4), not significantly different from that of the HC group [(5.0 +/- 1.4), P > 0.05]. The EM-FOK of the MCI patients with correct judgment and false recognition was (41.8 +/- 13.2)%, significantly higher than that of the HC group [(28.1 +/- 11.6)%, P < 0.01], however, the SM-FOK levels of the MCI patients with different judgment and recognition were all not significantly different from those of the HC group (all P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The MCI patients overestimate their memory performance on episodic FOK, but their SM monitoring is not impaired. The deficit of memory monitoring in MCI may be the foundation of subjective memory complaints and is useful for diagnosis of MCI. EM and SM monitoring may depend on different neural mechanisms.
Wu
Xiao-San
XS
Neuropsychological Laboratory, Institute of Neurology and Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
Cheng
Huai-Dong
HD
Wang
Kai
K
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012153:Retention, Psychology