Breadth and depth of working memory and executive function compromises in mild cognitive impairment and their relationships to frontal lobe morphometry and functional competence.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The extent of working memory (WM) and executive function (EF) impairment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not well-characterized.

Methods

We compared 48 patients with MCI, 124 noncognitively impaired elderly healthy controls, and 57 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) on multiple WM/EF measures, frontal lobe integrity indexes, and functioning.

Results

Patients with MCI demonstrated worse performance on nearly all WM/EF tests. This profile of impairment was refined in a factor analysis that identified three primary WM/EF constructs: WM storage; speed and controlled visual search; and manipulation of information and problem solving. EF impairments were associated with reductions in prefrontal cortical thickness. WM/EF accounted for over 50% of the v

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Alvarez L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6416209 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature