This grant aims to assess odor-place and object-place associative memory, as well as source memory, for olfactory and visual stimuli in the elderly and those at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Problems associated with memory are commonly observed in elderly individuals and characterize dementing diseases such as AD. Studies have reported memory decline for visual and verbal stimuli associated with aging and AD. Verbal memory deficits also have been reported in non-demented individuals with the E4 allele, a genetic risk factor for AD. Studies have shown that the elderly, AD patients, and those at risk for AD show impairments in odor identification and odor recognition memory. Due to the neuropathology associated with aging and AD, associative and source memory for olfactory stimuli also may be particularly impaired in these populations. Numerous studies suggest that the elderly and those at risk for AD show source and associative memory deficits for visual and auditory stimuli; however, more research is needed to examine associative and source memory for olfactory stimuli in these populations. The main aim of this grant will assess memory for odors using novel paradigms that may be very sensitive to the neuropathological changes associated with aging and early AD that affect mnemonic processing. The assessment of olfactory memory in the elderly and those at risk for AD is of great theoretical importance and may be useful in determining who among the elderly may be at risk for AD. Since olfactory loss is often not reported by elderly patients and may not be detected without special measurement, inclusion of olfactory measures into test batteries for AD is important.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32DC006519-02
Application #
6914377
Study Section
Communication Disorders Review Committee (CDRC)
Program Officer
Sklare, Dan
Project Start
2004-05-01
Project End
2005-08-31
Budget Start
2005-05-01
Budget End
2005-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$17,726
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Bayer, Zachary C; Hernandez, Rafael J; Morris, Andrea M et al. (2011) Age-related source memory deficits persist despite superior item memory. Exp Aging Res 37:473-80
Gilbert, Paul E; Pirogovsky, Eva; Ferdon, Sally et al. (2008) Differential effects of normal aging on memory for odor-place and object-place associations. Exp Aging Res 34:437-52
Hernandez, Rafael J; Bayer, Zach C; Brushfield, Andrea M et al. (2008) Effect of encoding condition on source memory for odors in healthy young and older adults. Gerontology 54:187-92
Gilbert, Paul E; Pirogovsky, Eva; Ferdon, Sally et al. (2006) The effects of normal aging on source memory for odors. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 61:P58-60