Reduced Contextual Information During Future Thinking in Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the ability of patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) to produce “when, where, and who” information during future thinking. Methods: AD patients and control participants were invited to imagine future scenarios. Future thinking was analyzed with respect to the number of “when, where, and who” details. Analysis showed fewer “when, where, and who” details in AD participants than in control participants. Fewer “when” than “where” details and fewer “where” than “who” details were observed in AD and control participants. Results: Production of temporal information in participants with AD was found to be associated with general cognitive functioning, as assessed with the Mini Mental State Exam. Future thinking in AD is mainly associated with reduced contextual information. Conclusion : The diminished ability to construct time-related details during future thinking in AD can be mainly associated with the diminished general cognitive ability in AD, and probably with hippocampal compromise in the disease. We also propose a socio-emotional account according to which, confronted with a limited-time perspective during future thinking, AD patients may tend to maximize their emotional well-being by avoiding time-related information and thinking about friends, family and beloved ones.