title: A longitudinal study of semantic memory impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study explored the nature of the semantic deterioration normally displayed in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim was to disentangle the extent to which semantic memory problems in patients with AD are best characterized as loss of semantic knowledge rather than difficulties in accessing semantic knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal approach was applied. The same semantic tests as well as same items were used across three test occasions a year apart. Twelve Alzheimer patients and 20 matched control subjects, out of a total of 25 cases in each group, remained at the final test occasion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alzheimer patients were impaired in all the semantic tasks as compared to the matched comparison group. A progressing deterioration was evident during the study period. Our findings suggest that semantic impairment is mainly due to loss of information rather than problems in accessing semantic information.
authors.affiliation: The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, Sweden. selina.mardh@gmail.com
authors.forename: Selina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mårdh
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nägga
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samuelsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D032882:Comprehension; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D018450:Disease Progression; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading