Autobiographical Specificity

Autobiographical Specificity in Alzheimer's Disease and Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia

Autobiographical memory is diminished in patients with Alzheimer's Disease and those with behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia, and research has focused on the hampered ability of patients in retrieving specific memories. However, this study proposes a detailed methodology to provide a qualitative analysis of autobiographical specificity.

Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and those with behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia will be invited to retrieve autobiographical memories. Memories will be analyzed and categorized into specific, categoric, extended, or semantic autobiographical retrieval.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Alzheimer' disease or avioral variant of frontotemporal dementia
• No opposition from the patient to be included in the study
• For Alzheimer's patients: a score of more than 24 out of 30 on the Mini Mental State Examination (McKhann et al., 1984)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other psychiatric/neurological disorders
• Minor patients
• Adults under guardianship or protection.