Assessing Working Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment with Serial Order Recall.

Authors

Sheina Emrani, Rowan University
David J Libon, Rowan University
Melissa Lamar, Rush University
Catherine C Price, University of Florida
Angela L Jefferson, Vanderbilt University
Katherine A Gifford, Vanderbilt University
Timothy J Hohman, Vanderbilt University
Daniel A Nation, University of Southern California
Lisa Delano-Wood, VA San Diego Healthcare System
Amy Jak, VA San Diego Healthcare System
Katherine J Bangen, VA San Diego Healthcare System
Mark W Bondi, VA San Diego Healthcare System
Adam M Brickman, Columbia University
Jennifer Manly, Columbia University
Rodney Swenson, University of North Dakota
Rhoda Au, Boston University
Consortium for Clinical and Epidemiological Neuropsychological Data Analysis (CENDA)

Document Type

Article

Version Deposited

Accepted for publication (PostPrint)

Publication Date

1-1-2018

Publication Title

Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD

DOI

10.3233/JAD-170555

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Working memory (WM) is often assessed with serial order tests such as repeating digits backward. In prior dementia research using the Backward Digit Span Test (BDT), only aggregate test performance was examined.

OBJECTIVE: The current research tallied primacy/recency effects, out-of-sequence transposition errors, perseverations, and omissions to assess WM deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

METHODS: Memory clinic patients (n = 66) were classified into three groups: single domain amnestic MCI (aMCI), combined mixed domain/dysexecutive MCI (mixed/dys MCI), and non-MCI where patients did not meet criteria for MCI. Serial order/WM ability was assessed by asking participants to repeat 7 trials of five digits backwards. Serial order position accuracy, transposition errors, perseverations, and omission errors were tallied.

RESULTS: A 3 (group)×5 (serial position) repeated measures ANOVA yielded a significant group×trial interaction. Follow-up analyses found attenuation of the recency effect for mixed/dys MCI patients. Mixed/dys MCI patients scored lower than non-MCI patients for serial position 3 (p < 0.003) serial position 4 (p < 0.002); and lower than both group for serial position 5 (recency; p < 0.002). Mixed/dys MCI patients also produced more transposition errors than both groups (p < 0.010); and more omissions (p < 0.020), and perseverations errors (p < 0.018) than non-MCI patients.

CONCLUSIONS: The attenuation of a recency effect using serial order parameters obtained from the BDT may provide a useful operational definition as well as additional diagnostic information regarding working memory deficits in MCI.

Comments

The final publication is available at IOS Press through https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad170555

Recommended Citation

Emrani S, Libon DJ, Lamar M, Price CC, Jefferson AL, Gifford KA, Hohman TJ, Nation DA, Delano-Wood L, Jak A, Bangen KJ, Bondi MW, Brickman AM, Manly J, Swenson R, Au R, Consortium for Clinical and Epidemiological Neuropsychological Data Analysis (CENDA). Assessing Working Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment with Serial Order Recall. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 2018 Jan 9;61(3):917-928. doi: 10.3233/JAD-170555. PMID: 29254087. PMCID: PMC5901759.