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ABSTRACT: Introduction
The extent of working memory (WM) and executive function (EF) impairment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not well-characterized.Methods
We compared 48 patients with MCI, 124 noncognitively impaired elderly healthy controls, and 57 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) on multiple WM/EF measures, frontal lobe integrity indexes, and functioning.Results
Patients with MCI demonstrated worse performance on nearly all WM/EF tests. This profile of impairment was refined in a factor analysis that identified three primary WM/EF constructs: WM storage; speed and controlled visual search; and manipulation of information and problem solving. EF impairments were associated with reductions in prefrontal cortical thickness. WM/EF accounted for over 50% of the variance in functional competence.Discussion
In MCI, WM/EF impairments are far from rare, based on specific compromises to frontal cortex circuitry, and are associated with loss of everyday functioning. WM/EF impairments, even at this potentially prodromal stage of AD, have clinically deleterious consequences.
SUBMITTER: Garcia-Alvarez L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6416209 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Garcia-Alvarez Leticia L Gomar Jesus J JJ Sousa Amber A Garcia-Portilla Maria P MP Goldberg Terry E TE
Alzheimer's & dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 20190222
<h4>Introduction</h4>The extent of working memory (WM) and executive function (EF) impairment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not well-characterized.<h4>Methods</h4>We compared 48 patients with MCI, 124 noncognitively impaired elderly healthy controls, and 57 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) on multiple WM/EF measures, frontal lobe integrity indexes, and functioning.<h4>Results</h4>Patients with MCI demonstrated worse performance on nearly all WM/EF tests. This profile of impairment ...[more]