When we speak, listen, read, or write, when we give someone directions to a favorite restaurant; or, when we think about a friend, we are retrieving information from semantic memory. The distinction between episodic and semantic memory was proposed by Endel Tulving in 1972; since then close to a hundred studies have focused specifically on […]

Posted in Alzheimer's Disease Disorder No Comments »

The normal aging process does not create major deficits in the intelligibility or the appropriate organization of speech. However, those persons who are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease are atypical because the undergo brain changes in areas that appear to be highly associated with memory and language. The mechanical components of speech production remain relatively unaffected […]

Posted in Alzheimer's Disease Disorder No Comments »

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, language problems become more evident. The patient may ramble on, almost incessantly, in what may appear to be irrelevant, disorganized, repetitious, and fragmented sentences. In more advanced cases the patient may mumble unintelligible phrases or remember only a few key words which may be used in appropriately. Eventually the patient may […]

Posted in Alzheimer's Disease Disorder No Comments »

The most common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is memory dysfunction. This impairment is exhibited in the individual through diminished decision-making skills, insecurity, and a loss of social skills. It also results in much confusion in interpreting visual and auditory information in the physical environment. There is difficulty understanding complexity in the environment, such as different […]

Posted in Alzheimer's Disease Disorder No Comments »

Consider these words dinosaur, avocado, tequila. We’ll come back to them later. Alzheimer’s disease is often described by professionals as a disorder of memory and cognition (thought processes). Indeed, memory loss is usually the first symptom that the individual or the spouse notices and brings to the attention of the family physician. Difficulty recalling names […]

Posted in Alzheimer's Disease Disorder No Comments »