Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders

Original Research Article

Negligible Effects of Depression on Verbal and Spatial Performance in Alzheimer’s Disease

Berger A.-K.a · Fahlander K.a · Wahlin Å.a · Bäckman L.a,b

Author affiliations

aStockholm Gerontology Research Center and Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Occupational Therapy and Elderly Care Research (Neurotec), Division of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, and bDepartment of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Keywords: Alzheimer’s diseaseDepressionComorbidityCognitive abilityVerbal fluencyVisuospatial skill

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Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2002;13:1–7
https://doi.org/10.1159/000048626

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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview
Abstract of Original Research Article

Published online: December 05, 2001
Issue release date: December 2001

Number of Print Pages: 7
Number of Figures: 2
Number of Tables: 1

ISSN: 1420-8008 (Print)
eISSN: 1421-9824 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/DEM

Abstract

We examined whether a diagnosis of depression affects verbal and visuospatial performance in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using data from a population-based study, persons with AD and depression (AD/D), AD alone and a control group of normal older adults were compared in two tests of verbal ability (category and letter fluency) and two tests of visuospatial skill (block design and clock drawing). As expected, there were clear AD-related deficits across all cognitive tasks. More importantly, the AD and AD/D groups were indistinguishable on all task variables. The lack of effects of depression was discussed relative to the view that those symptoms of this disease which are especially detrimental to cognitive functioning (e.g. concentration difficulties, lack of interest, loss of energy) may already be present in AD as a result of the neurodegenerative process.

© 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel



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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview
Abstract of Original Research Article

Published online: December 05, 2001
Issue release date: December 2001

Number of Print Pages: 7
Number of Figures: 2
Number of Tables: 1

ISSN: 1420-8008 (Print)
eISSN: 1421-9824 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/DEM

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2002, Vol.13, No. 1

December 2001

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