Accelerated Long-term Forgetting in Memory Clinics
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Accelerated Long-term Forgetting in Memory Clinics: Assessing Rate of Forgetting using the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (Third Edition)
IRAS ID
153118
Contact name
Craig Newman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Plymouth University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study is concerned with the memory symptoms experienced by older people who attend Memory Clinics and the value of different neuropsychological measures that are used in this setting.
The deteriorating ability to remember information over a period of time is considered to be an early symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) dementia. This maybe conceptualised as Accelerated Long-term Forgetting (ALF). At present the neuropsychological measures that are typically used in Memory Clinics do not measure rate of forgetting and so ALF may go undetected in this context.
This study will investigate the phenomenon of ALF in people referred to Memory Clinics and healthy controls. In addition, this study will explore whether it is possible to modify an existing test of cognition to assess rate of forgetting – the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (Third Edition; ACE-III). It is hoped that this amended administration will increase the sensitivity of the ACE-III to detect subtle cognitive changes from the early stage of AD dementia.
This pilot study will involve English speaking adults over the age of 55. Individuals with a diagnosis of dementia, people with subjective memory complaints but no dementia diagnosis and healthy controls will be included in the study. Participants will be recruited from NHS Older Adult Services as well as from local community sites.
Phase one:
Participants will be invited to complete a 2 hour assessment battery of neuropsychological measures; this will include a 15 minute comfort break. Participants will then be contacted by telephone seven days later and supported to complete a workbook of questions about the assessment; this will be returned by post.
Phase two:
Participants will be invited to repeat the phase one assessment process 12 months later.
The project will run until September 2015, with two rounds of data collection; each lasting roughly 16 weeks.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SW/0084
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion