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Semantic network abnormality predicts rate of cognitive decline in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2009

Agnes S. Chan ,
David P. Salmon ,
Nelson Butters  and
Shannon A. Johnson
Agnes S. Chan
Affiliation:
Psychology Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92161 Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
David P. Salmon
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
Nelson Butters
Affiliation:
Psychology Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92161 Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
Shannon A. Johnson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
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Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between rate of cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the integrity of the network of associations that comprise their semantic knowledge. The integrity of the semantic network of 12 AD patients was determined by comparing their networks to a standard normal control network derived with Pathfinder analysis, a multidimensional graphic analysis technique. A simple linear regression analysis, comparing the degree of semantic network deterioration with rate of cognitive decline as measured by the difference between the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) scores obtained at the time of the testing of semantic knowledge (Year 1) and one year later (Year 2), was highly significant (r2 = .84; p < .001). These results suggest that a sensitive measure of the structural deterioration of semantic knowledge may be useful for predicting the rate of progression of cognitive changes in patients with AD. (JINS, 1995, I, 297–303.)

Keywords

Semantic networkCognitive declineAlzheimer's disease
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 1 , Issue 3 , May 1995 , pp. 297 - 303
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 1995

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