Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 3, 2026

The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: October 13, 2016
Diagnosis and assessment of age-associated memory impairment
T H Crook1, G J Larrabee, J R Youngjohn
1Memory Assessment Clinics, Inc., Bethesda, MD 20814.
Abstract:
Age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) is a diagnostic term applied to healthy persons greater than 50 years of age who have experienced a gradual decline in memory that lies within the boundaries of normality. Although the behavioral deficits associated with AAMI are modest in comparison to those associated with dementing disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, they are quite troublesome to many middle-aged and elderly adults engaged in intellectually demanding activities. In this article, diagnostic criteria for AAMI will be provided, new psychometric instruments for assessing the behavioral deficits seen in AAMI will be described, and results of large multinational studies with these instruments will be presented. Finally, behavioral and pharmacologic strategies for treating AAMI will be discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Amnesia
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Dementia l: Introduction

