Longitudinal Changes in Intellectual Memory, and Perceptual Functions in Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type

Abstract

Dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) has been characterized as a primary degenerative disease of the central nervous system which is insidious in onset, steady and progressive in nature, and involves diffuse regions of the brain. While the data-base for neuropsychological patterns continues to develop for single-measurement studies of DAT, there is a paucity of information available concerning the dynamic and progressive quality of the disorder. The present study was initiated to investigate systematically the longitudinal patterns of intelligence, verbal and nonverbal memory, and visual-tactile perceptual functioning in two groups of DAT patients.