Mild cognitive impairment does entail retrograde amnesia for public events

Abstract

In this study memory for public events was evaluated in 15 amnesic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients, whose clinical diagnosis was refined through a stringent selection procedure. A total of 9 patients were longitudinally reassessed over an 18-month period. About half of the participants were impaired at baseline and nearly 80% at the end of the 18-month follow-up. Moreover, retrograde memory declined significantly over time. Evidence of a pathological Ribot-type temporal gradient was found in about half of the aMCI patients. This is the first report of a remote memory deficit in aMCI. It highlights amnesia for public events as a frequent accompaniment of this condition. The findings tie in with the hypothesized role of the hippocampal complex in long-term memory.

Keywords:

• Mild cognitive impairment
• Retrograde amnesia
• Progressive amnesia
• Degenerative amnesia
• Hippocampus

Acknowledgments

Following our usual practice, the names of the authors are listed in alphabetical order as the contribution of each was essential to this paper. H.S. made the proposal of the study; H.S. and F.L. wrote the manuscript; I.B. collected the data; M.C.S. managed the psychometric issues. This study was partly supported by a grant awarded to H.S. by the Italian Health Ministry through the Regione Lombardia (DRG VII/6437/12/10/2001).