Following H.N. over 21 years: recency change and reduced retention predict later impairment in memory, and recency ratio may combine both effects

ABSTRACT

The study follows an intellectually superior patient from initial subjective memory complaints to MCI and dementia over 21 years. Primary memory measures, process- and reliable change-measures from 12 assessments with the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) were analyzed as well as experimental measures of retrieval and Recency-Ratio (Rr) combining traditional recency measures with selective retrieval impairments of recency items.Recency change preceded normatively impaired memory by four years, and retention percentage by two years. Rr indicated risk for MCI conversion 13 years prior to receiving that diagnosis, and is an interesting measure for early detection of dementia in CVLT

KEYWORDS:

• Dementia
• cvlt
• mci
• recency Ratio
• long time follow-up
• prediction
• cognitive reserve

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.