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Objectives. This article describes results of a randomized controlled trial comparing a time-limited early-stage memory loss (ESML) support group program conducted by a local Alzheimer's Association chapter to a wait-list (WL) control condition. Methods. One hundred and forty-two dyads were randomized in blocks to ESML (n = 96) or WL (n = 46). Mean age of participants was 74.9 years, and mean Mini-Mental State Examination was 23.4. The primary outcome was participant's quality of life; secondary outcomes included mood, family communication, and perceived stress. Results. On the intent-to-treat (ITT) pre-post analysis, significant differences were seen in participant quality of life (p < .001), depression (p < .01), and family communication (p < .05). Within the care partner groups, there was no significant difference between ESML and WL in the ITT analysis. A post hoc exploratory examination of changes that were associated with improved quality of life in ESML participants revealed significant reductions of depressive symptoms and behavior problems (p < .05), improved family communication (p < .05), self-efficacy (p < .01), Medical Outcomes Study short form (SF-36) role--emotional (p < .05), SF-36 social functioning (p < .05), and SF-36 mental health components (p < .01) in improvers. Discussion, These results support the efficacy of ESML support groups for individuals with dementia. Key Words: Alzheimer's disease--Caregivers--Dementia--Depression--Quality of life. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbq054.

A case study of a 65-year-old man with confusion and memory loss is discussed to better understand limbic encephalitis, the ailment he is suffering from. The symptoms, diagnosis and treatment methodologies for limbic encephalitis are elaborated.

A case study of a 74-year-old male patient manifesting symptoms of memory loss and neuropathy is discussed. The effect of alcohol intake on memory and the nervous system as well as the options for management of the problem are presented.

Abstract The primary focus of research exploring the experience of developing memory difficulties has been on people who already have a diagnosis of dementia. This study employs a qualitative approach [...]

A framework is developed to rigorously test an entire class of memory retention functions by examining hazard properties. Evidence is provided that the memory hazard function is not monotonically decreasing. Yet most of the proposals for retention functions, which have emerged from the psychological literature, imply that memory hazard is monotonically decreasing over the entire temporal range. Furthermore, the few remaining proposals, that do not have monotonically decreasing hazard, have difficulty fitting data over both short-term and long-term intervals. A new 2-trace hazard model is developed that successfully circumvents these difficulties. This new model is used to account for the size of memory span and the time course of proactive and retroactive interference effects. The model can fit the retention characteristics of H. M., the famous amnesic patient, as well as normal experimental participants. The model is also used to account for the time course of the misinformation effect. Keywords: hazard functions, memory retention functions, memory storage dynamics, two-trace hazard model

Abstract Undetected cognitive impairment (CI) and dementia are important clinical and epidemiological problems. This study addresses the effectiveness of using a single self-reported measure of severe memory problems (SMP) as [...]

The four memory systems that are of clinical relevance such as episodic memory, semantic memory, procedural memory and working memory are discussed. The understanding of memory from the point of view of functional neuroimaging and studies of patients with brain insults, which should aid clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of the memory disorders of their patients, is summarized.

Rey (1964) proposed a brief screening test to assess the validity of memory complaints and hypothesized that the ease of the task would mislead malingerers to perform more poorly even than persons with impaired memory due to brain injury. Lezak (1983) suggested cut-offs, but only one empirical report on Rey's task could be located in the literature. That study by Goldberg and Miller (1986) supported Lezak's cut-offs; however, the criterion groups were psychiatric and mentally retarded inpatients. In the present study, Rey's test, along with other neuropsychological tests designed to determine various types of memory dysfunction, was administered to brain-damaged (n = 18) and comparison (n = 16) groups. The results again generally supported Lezak's cut-offs.

The hypothesized structure of the Memory Compensation Questionnaire (MCQ) and structural equivalence across, age, gender and time are tested. The results of structural equation modeling supported a priori structure of the MCQ where the MCQ is available for measuring self-reported efforts to compensate for everyday memory losses.

People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who are depressed are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) than people with memory problems who do not have depression, new research shows. [...]

Stiff joints and graying hair may be normal parts of aging, but what about for-getfulness? Is it natural for people to forget names, misplace keys, and experience other memory lapses [...]

If you're experiencing changes in your memory abilities, don't let fear of an Alzheimer's diagnosis delay your visit to a doctor. There are a number of medical conditions besides Alzheimer's [...]

Forgetfulness may be as normal in aging as wrinkled skin and aching joints, but for most of us it's much more worrisome. How do we know whether our memory troubles [...]

Asking family members about memory loss in a patient may be an unreliable strategy to detect dementia. To compare a family informant's report of memory loss in an older family [...]