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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
11:01
Examining the Characteristics of Episodic Memory using Event-related Potentials in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: August 30, 2011
Are saving appearance responses typical communication patterns in Alzheimer's disease?
Masateru Matsushita1, Yusuke Yatabe2, Asuka Koyama3
1Center for Medical Education and Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
Plos One
|May 24, 2018
Summary
People with Alzheimer's disease (AD) frequently use saving appearance responses (SARs) during cognitive tests, unlike those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). This behavior can mask dementia severity and delay treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Gerontology
Background:
- Saving appearance responses (SARs) are common in individuals with dementia, where they feign correct answers on cognitive tests like the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
- SARs can lead to underestimation of dementia severity and hinder timely treatment initiation.
- Existing knowledge on SARs primarily relies on clinical observations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of SARs in Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
- To determine if SARs are a characteristic communication pattern in AD.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 107 outpatients with AD, 16 with mixed AD and cerebrovascular dementia, 55 with MCI, and 30 with DLB.
- Assessment of SARs during the MMSE.
- Statistical analysis using the χ2 test and logistic regression to examine the relationship between SARs and AD.
Main Results:
- SARs were observed in 57.9% of AD patients, 18.2% of MCI patients, and 20.0% of DLB patients (P < 0.05).
- Logistic regression confirmed that AD patients were significantly more likely to exhibit SARs than MCI (OR = 3.48) and DLB (OR = 4.24) patients, even after adjusting for covariates.
- These findings were robust across different diagnostic groups.
Conclusions:
- SARs are most prevalent in individuals with Alzheimer's disease.
- Clinicians should recognize SARs as indicative of patients' internal conflict when unable to answer questions accurately.
- Acknowledge and address SARs to improve dementia care and patient support.
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