CATEGORY AND ATTRIBUTE KNOWLEDGE DETERIORATION IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

A prevalent theory regarding the deterioration of semantic memory in A lzheimer's disease is that it is a bottom-up process. If this is true, performance on tests of attribute knowledge should decline more rapid ly than performance on tests of categorical knowledge as dementia seve rity increases. In the present study, a convincing pattern of findings to either support or reject the theory failed to emerge. This raised questions regarding the ability to separate attribute and categorical knowledge, and whether one can be tested without influence of the othe r. Questions also were raised regarding the additional cognitive proce sses needed to complete tasks of semantic memory. (C) 1996 Academic pr ess, Inc.