Affiliations: Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de
Gériatrie de Montréal, Canada | Département de Psychologie et CERNEC,
Université de Montréal, Canada | AP-HM Timone and Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie et de
Neuropsychologie, Université de la Méditerranée, INSERM
U751, Marseille, France | Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition,
Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Sven Joubert, Centre de recherche de
l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), 4565
Queen-Mary road, Montreal (Quebec), H3W1W5, Canada. Tel.: +1 514 340 3540; ext.
3551; Fax: +1 514 340 3548; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Although the semantic memory impairment has been largely documented
in Alzheimer's disease, little is known about semantic memory in the
preclinical phase of the disease (Mild Cognitive Impairment). The purpose of
this study was to document the nature of semantic breakdown using a battery of
tests assessing different aspects of conceptual knowledge: knowledge about
common objects, famous people and famous public events. Results indicate that
all domains of semantic memory were impaired in MCI individuals but knowledge
about famous people and famous events was affected to a greater extent than
knowledge about objects. This pattern of results suggests that conceptual
entities with distinctive and unique properties may be more prone to semantic
breakdown in MCI. In summary, results of this study support the view that
genuine semantic deficits are present in MCI. It could be useful to investigate
the etiological outcome of patients failing or succeeding at such tests.
