Factors predicting success in picture naming in Alzheimer's disease and primary progressive aphasia

The aim of thr present study was to determine the predictive value of all i mportant variables in the picture naming performance of 8 patients with pro bable Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 8 patients with primary progressive apha sia (FPA). The experimental investigation controlled for (i) visual complex ity, (ii) name agreement on dominant response, (iii) age of acquisition, (i v) frequency, (v) word length, (vi) concept familiarity, and (vii) category membership. The results of the multiple regression analyses showed that ag e of acquisition and name agreement were significant for 10/16 subjects. Vi sual complexity; frequency, familiarity, and category were also significant for four patients respectively. Word length held no effect. These results are at variance with those of series of patients with AD (Gaillard et al., 1998) and with PPA (Lambon Ralph et al., 1998) where concept familiarity wa s found to be one of the most predictive factors of naming success. (C) 200 1 Academic Press.