Depressive symptomatology and autobiographical memory in Alzheimer’s disease dementia

Abstract

This study aims to assess levels of depressive symptomatology and the type of autobiographical memories in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease dementia, as well as to analyse the relationship between the type of recovered memories and depressive symptoms. The study was conducted at the Local Health Unit of Bragança and Mirandela between July and September 2012, involving 40 older adults aged between 63 and 92 years, in mild or moderate stages of dementia. The Geriatric Depression Scale and the Autobiographical Memory Test were applied. Results indicate the presence of depressive symptoms in most participants and a tendency toward the retrieval of general autobiographical memories, as well as a positive correlation between depressive symptomatology and negative autobiographical memories, highlighting the need for further research on this relationship in Alzheimer’s disease dementia.