Identifying multiple domain memory impairment in high-risk group for Alzheimer's disorder

Introduction: Occasional lapses in memory in elderly people are often considered as normal aging process and not a warning sign of serious mental deterioration or Alzheimer's disease (AD). When memory loss becomes so pervasive and severe that it disrupts daily activities, it becomes a signal for early AD. As the disease is irreversible and progressive in nature, identification of persons with high risk of developing AD is becoming a priority. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the deficits in the memory performance of patients who presented with memory difficulties, without any other significant cognitive decline, and identified with high risk. Subject and Methods: Consecutive patients of both sexes in the age range of 55–70 years, who presented with problem in memory, were screened on the Mini–Mental State Examination and further assessed on the Dementia Rating Scale. Patients identified with high risk for AD were assessed for their memory profile using the PGI Memory Scale and further compared with healthy controls. Results: The high-risk group performed significantly lower than controls in domains of recent memory, delayed recall, verbal retention for dissimilar pairs, visual retention, and recognition. Conclusion: Multiple memory domains are affected in high-risk group for AD. Although they did not qualify to be diagnosed with AD, their memory profile is distinct with healthy controls and may be indicative of proneness for the disease.