Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease: Assessing Face-Name Associative Memory, Executive Function Decline, and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

Grooten, Jesse (2024) Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease: Assessing Face-Name Associative Memory, Executive Function Decline, and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms. Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

The present study examined differences between help-seeking individuals with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Subjective Cognitive Decline in three domains: memory, executive functions, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, while controlling for age and education. The study had three main objectives: (a) to contribute to the validation of the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam by examining which of its subscales exhibited the largest and smallest disparities between the groups; (b) to investigate whether individuals with aMCI demonstrate executive function decline compared to those with SCD, as assessed by performance on the Stroop Colour Word Test and the Behavioural Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome Key Search; (c) to assess whether individuals with aMCI are more likely to exhibit neuropsychiatric symptoms based on informant-reports; The study seeks to determine whether additional risk factors linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) are notably more prevalent in individuals with aMCI compared to those with SCD. The study contributes to the validation of the FNAME by providing evidence for the efficacy of the FNAME in dissociating between associative memory performance of help-seeking SCD and aMCI, while controlling for the effects of age and education. Significant, but minor differences were found in SCWT performance between the groups. Additionally, while neuropsychiatric symptoms were significantly more prevalent in aMCI, they were also frequently observed in SCD. The findings support the notion that risk factors for AD progression are notably more prevalent in aMCI than SCD.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Enriquez Geppert, S.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Clinical Neuropsychology (CN) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	13 Mar 2024 11:36
Last Modified:	13 Mar 2024 11:36
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3200

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