ADAPTIVE AND MALADAPTIVE UTILIZATION OF COLOR CUES BY PATIENTS WITH MILD-TO-MODERATE ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

The ability to utilize color information was investigated in 12 patien ts with mild to moderate probable Alzheimer's Disease (DAT) and in 12 age- and gender-matched control subjects. All subjects underwent testi ng of visual acuity and color vision before being rested with a cognit ive task consisting of four conditions (no color; color as attention e nhancer color as valid cue, color as distracter). Although the groups did not differ in visual acuity or color vision, patients with DAT wer e less accurate than controls in all four conditions of the the cognit ive task. Both groups performed best with color as a valid cue and wor st with color as distracter but condition had a significantly stronger effect on patients than on controls. It is concluded that color is a potent stimulus attribute for patients with DAT. (C) 1997 National Aca demy of Neuropsycchology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.