Errorless learning of face-name associations in early Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Errorless learning principles were applied in an intervention designed to teach a 72-year-old man in the early stages of dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) the names of 11 members of his social club. The intervention incorporated verbal elaboration, vanishing cues and expanding rehearsal. The proportion of faces correctly named increased significantly, rising from 22% at baseline to 98% following training. The gains generalized well from photographs to real faces in the natural environment and were fully maintained at follow up after 3, 6 and 9 months. Errorless learning may be a useful addition to the range of techniques available to professionals and carers for memory retraining in patients with early DAT.