Alzheimer memory training: Positive results replicated

Abstract

In December, 1992, Clinical Gerontologist published the results of my dissertation research single subject experiments in which two early Alzheimer patients (Folstein MMSE scores of 23) were assisted to relearn two sets of forgotten biographical information by means of informational narratives and interactive quizzes presented via audio cassette recorder¹I Subsequent articles in this journal have discussed my memory training work in the context of a multi-modal treatment program,² and presented findings from a research study that compared quizzing to repetition as a means of reteaching forgotten information.³ Since none of the previously published articles referred to memory training in their titles, it is conceivable that researchers and practitioners might not find these articles in routine literature searches.

This article brings together in one place a summary of my memory training work with the 14 Alzheimer's patients and one undiagnosed amnestic patient with whom I have used the tape-recorded intervention. During the next five years, the technique will be tested, among other interventions, with 18 of 28 early stage Alzheimer patients with whom I'll be working under a grant from the National Institute on Aging.

So far, the technique has resulted in substantial learning in 13 of the 15 subjects with whom it was tried. MMSE scores of successful learners ranged from 10 to 27. The two who failed to learn had the highest and lowest mental status scores of the Alzheimer subjects: eight and 26, respectively. One or two week follow-up was done in 12 studies. In 11 of the 12 studies, 78 to 100 percent of questions answered correctly at post-test were answered correctly at follow-up.