title: Autobiographical and episodic memory deficits in mild traumatic brain injury.
abstract: Those who have suffered a concussion, otherwise known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), often complain of lingering memory problems. However, there is little evidence in the behavioral literature reliably demonstrating memory deficits. Thus, in the present study, cognitive profiles including measures of general executive functioning and processing speed, as well as episodic and semantic memory were collected in younger and older adult participants with or without a remote (>1year prior to testing) mTBI. We first investigated whether there were observable episodic and autobiographical memory impairments associated with mTBI within an otherwise healthy young group. Next, because previous work had demonstrated some overlap in patterns of behavioral impairment in normally aging adults and younger adults with a history of mTBI (e.g. Ozen, Fernandes, Clark, & Roy, 2015), we sought to determine whether these groups displayed similar cognitive profiles. Lastly, we conducted an exploratory analysis to test whether having suffered an mTBI might exacerbate age-related cognitive decline. Results showed the expected age-related decline in episodic memory performance, coupled with a relative preservation of semantic memory in older adults. Importantly, this pattern was also present in younger adults with a history of remote mTBI. No differences were observed across older adult groups based on mTBI status. Logistic regression analyses, using each measure in our battery as a predictor, successfully classified mTBI status in younger participants with a high degree of specificity (79.5%). These results indicate that those who have had an mTBI demonstrate a distinct cognitive signature, characterized by impairment in episodic and autobiographical memory, coupled with a relative preservation of semantic memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, N2L 3G1 Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: jwammes@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wammes
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, M5S 1A1 Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, M6A 2E1 Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Tyler J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Good
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, N2L 3G1 Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Myra A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aging; Autobiographical memory; Concussion; Episodic memory; Mild traumatic brain injury; Semantic memory