Utility of a Working Memory Task in Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease for Chinese Older Adults in Hong Kong

• In Event: 35.083 - Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: 35.083-7 - Applications of Cognition and Assessment

Abstract

Previous studies proposed that the active inhibition processes of central executive component in working memory have been found to be impaired very early in the course of Dementia of Alzheimer disease (DAT). The present study examined the utility of a working memory task in discriminating very mild DAT among Hong Kong Chinese older adults. The working memory task was administered individually, in which participants have to perform a counting task while remembering the counting results. The results indicated that the Counting Span task could effectively differentiate individuals with very mild DAT from normal aging adults. Implications for early detection of DAT using this and other similar tasks are discussed.

Authors

• Jianfang Chang, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Kit-Tai Hau, Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Chi-Shing Tse, Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Linda C.W. Lam, Chinese University of Hong Kong