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Number-Stroop performance in normal aging and Alzheimer's-type dementia.
L Girelli1, M Sandrini, S Cappa
1Universitats Klinik fuer Neurologie, Innsbruck, Austria.
Brain and Cognition
|August 31, 2001
Summary
Healthy elderly individuals and those with dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) show impaired selective attention. However, core numerical processing remains resilient to cognitive decline in these groups.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Investigating cognitive changes in aging and dementia is crucial for understanding neurodegenerative processes.
- The number-Stroop paradigm is a valuable tool for assessing numerical processing and inhibitory control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine alterations in inhibitory control and numerical processing in healthy elderly individuals and patients with dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT).
- To determine the impact of cognitive deterioration on the size-congruity effect and selective attention.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the number-Stroop paradigm to compare performance between healthy elderly individuals and individuals with DAT.
- Analyzed the size-congruity effect, assessing interference and facilitation in numerical and physical comparison tasks.
- Evaluated laterality effects and automatic numerical processing.
Main Results:
- The size-congruity effect was present in all groups, but the pattern of interference and facilitation differed.
- Increased interference in the older and DAT groups indicated a breakdown in selective attention.
- A standard laterality effect and automatic numerical processing were observed across all groups.
Conclusions:
- Selective attention is compromised in both healthy aging and dementia of Alzheimer's type.
- Automatic numerical processing and retrieval of numerical information appear resistant to significant cognitive decline.
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