Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of working-memory deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s dementia using Wechsler’s Working Memory Index

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background and aims: Although episodic memory deficits are a hallmark in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), little attention has been paid so far to the ability to maintain and manipulate information during a brief period of time, i.e. working memory. In this study, we examine verbal working memory in both cognitively unimpaired older people and MCI and AD patients. Methods: Seventy-five participants were examined with either no cognitive impairment (n=25), MCI (n=25) or AD (n=25). Working memory was investigated with Wechsler’s Working Memory Index tests (Digit Span, Letter-Number Sequencing and Arithmetic). Results: Both MCI and AD patients performed worse on all three working-memory tests compared with controls, the subtest Letter-Number Sequencing also revealing worse performance in AD compared with MCI patients. Conclusions: Working-memory deficits are already present in MCI patients and worsen in AD patients, suggesting that working memory should be assessed as part of neuropsychological testing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. McKhann G, Drachman DA, Folstein M, Katzman R, Price DL, Stadlan EM. Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: report of the NINCDS-ADRDA work group under the auspices of Department of Health and Human Services Task Force on Alzheimer’s disease. Neurology 1984; 34: 939–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Petersen RC, Negash S. Mild cognitive impairment: an overview. CNS Spectr 2008; 13: 45–53.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Matsuda O, Saito M. Multiple cognitive deficits in patients during the mild cognitive impairment stage of Alzheimer’s disease: how are cognitive domains other than episodic memory impaired? Int Psychogeriatr 2009; 21: 970–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Griffith HR, Netson KL, Harrell LE, Zamrini EY, Brockington JC, Marson DC. Amnestic mild cognitive impairment: diagnostic outcomes and clinical prediction over a two-year time period. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2006; 12: 166–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Calderon J, Perry RJ, Erzinclioglu SW, Berrios GE, Dening TR, Hodges JR. Perception, attention, and working memory are disproportionately impaired in dementia with Lewy bodies compared with Alzheimer’s disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2001; 70: 157–64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Baddeley AD. Working Memory, Thought and Action. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2007.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  7. Piekema C, Rijpkema M, Fernández G, Kessels RPC. Dissociating the neural correlates of intra-item and inter-item working-memory binding. PLoS One 2010; 5: e10214.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Fillenbaum GG, van Belle G, Morris JC et al. Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD): the first twenty years. Alzheimers Dement 2008; 4: 96–109.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR. “Mini-Mental-State”: a practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res 1975; 12: 189–98.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Wechsler D. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, 3rd ed. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lezak MD, Howieson DB, Loring, DW. Neuropsychological Assessment, 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Guarch J, Marcos T, Salamero M, Gastó C, Blesa R. Mild cognitive impairment: a risk indicator of later dementia, or a preclinical phase of the disease? Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2008; 23: 257–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kramer JH, Nelson A, Johnson JK et al. Multiple cognitive deficits in amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2006; 22: 306–11.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Belleville S, Chertkow H, Gauthier S. Working memory and control of attention in persons with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. Neuropsychology 2007; 21: 458–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Borkowska A, Drozdz W, Jurkowski P, Rybakowski JK. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and the N-back test in Mild Cognitive Impairment and elderly depression. World J Biol Psychiatry 2009; 10: 870–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kessels RPC, Meulenbroek O, Fernández G, Olde Rikkert MGM. Spatial working memory in aging and Mild Cognitive Impairment: effects of task load and contextual cueing. Aging Neuropsychol Cogn 2010; 17: 556–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Égerházi A, Berecz R, Bartók E, Degrell I. Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB) in mild cognitive impairment and in Alzheimer’s disease. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2007; 31: 746–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kessels RPC, Van den Berg E, Ruis C, Brands AMA. The backward span of the Corsi Block-Tapping Task and its association with the WAIS-III Digit Span. Assessment 2008; 15: 426–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Zamarian L, Semenza C, Domahs F, Benke T, Delazer M. Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment: effects of shifting and interference in simple arithmetic. J Neurol Sci 2007; 263: 79–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Charlton RA, Barrick TR, Lawes IN, Markus HS, Morris RG. White matter pathways associated with working memory in normal aging. Cortex 2010; 46: 474–89.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Toepper M, Beblo T, Thomas C, Driessen M. Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease: a new working memory paradigm. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2008; 23: 272–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Roy P. C. Kessels, Pieter W. Molleman & Joukje M. Oosterman

  2. Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Roy P. C. Kessels

  3. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Roy P. C. Kessels

Authors
  1. Roy P. C. Kessels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pieter W. Molleman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joukje M. Oosterman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roy P. C. Kessels.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kessels, R.P.C., Molleman, P.W. & Oosterman, J.M. Assessment of working-memory deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s dementia using Wechsler’s Working Memory Index. Aging Clin Exp Res 23, 487–490 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325245

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325245

Key words

Search

Navigation