Characterization of prospective memory in mild cognitive impairment by using the Ecological test of Prospective Memory

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to explore the exact nature, extent, and cognitive correlates of prospective memory deficits in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by using the Ecological Test of Prospective Memory (TEMP). Twenty-five MCI participants and 25 healthy older adults (HOA) performed the TEMP, the Envelope Task, the Comprehensive Assessment of Prospective Memory (CAPM), and a neuropsychological test battery. Results showed that, during the TEMP, MCI participants had difficulty detecting the moment to perform the intentions in the time-based condition (prospective component) and retrieving the associated actions in the event- and time-based conditions (retrospective component). The prospective component of the event-based condition was correlated with retrospective memory, whereas the prospective component of the time-based condition was correlated with executive functions. Finally, the TEMP yielded good sensitivity and specificity for discriminating between MCI and HOA, contrary to the Envelope Task and the CAPM.

KEYWORDS:

• Prospective memory
• mild cognitive impairment
• aging
• retrospective memory
• executive functions
• seminaturalistic assessment

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Hugues Leduc, MSc, for his suggestions for the statistical analyses, Manon Fleurent, MSc, the geriatricians and nurses from the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal and the Institut de Gériatrie de Montréal for their help in recruiting participants, Sonia Marcone, PhD., and Roxane Langlois, PhD., for their help with test administration, as well as all the participants who volunteered to take part in the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by scholarships from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé (A.L.) and a grant from the Alzheimer Society of Canada (I.R., M.J.P. and S.J.).