Abstract

The purpose of this project is to investigate the changes in semantic memory that occur in normal aging and dementia. Semantic memory will be assessed with a set of well-researched laboratory tasks, while brain activation will be measured using positron-emission tomography (PET). PET activation studies will be conducted in 10 young normal and 10 old normal control subjects and 10 probable AD patients performing Visual Confrontation naming, Visual Semantic Process and Word Reading. It is hypothesized that the activity in low-level automatic processing systems will be normal in Alzheimer's disease (AD) whereas the processes requiring flexibility and active search will result in compensatory hyperactivation in the AD patients.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG013669-03
Application #
2683165
Study Section
Human Development and Aging Subcommittee 3 (HUD)
Program Officer
Heemskerk, Jill E
Project Start
1996-06-06
Project End
2002-03-31
Budget Start
1998-04-01
Budget End
2002-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053785812
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213

  Publications

Ricci, P T; Zelkowicz, B J; Nebes, R D et al. (1999) Functional neuroanatomy of semantic memory: recognition of semantic associations. Neuroimage 9:88-96
Zelkowicz, B J; Herbster, A N; Nebes, R D et al. (1998) An examination of regional cerebral blood flow during object naming tasks. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 4:160-6
Herbster, A N; Mintun, M A; Nebes, R D et al. (1997) Regional cerebral blood flow during word and nonword reading. Hum Brain Mapp 5:84-92