Authors : Camila Feliciano-Avilés; Javier Hernández-Justiniano; Frances Centeno; Stephanie Santiago-Mejías; Orlando M. Pagán-Torres
Volume/Issue : Volume 6 - 2021, Issue 1 - January
Google Scholar : http://bitly.ws/9nMw
Scribd : https://bit.ly/2Op04fG
Background: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the
most common type of dementia up to date. AD is
characterized by the progressive impairment of
neurocognitive functions and behavioral manifestations
that interfere with daily life. AD represents the fourth
cause of death in Puerto Rico, highlighting the pressing
need to identify neuropsychological profiles of the
pathology in this population to promote early diagnosis
and facilitate individualized neuropsychological
rehabilitation. This study explored the demographics and
neuropsychological performance of Puerto Ricans with
AD to assess specific neurocognitive patterns that
contribute to the identification, staging, and tracking of
the progression of the disease. Methods: We completed a
comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation to 95
Puerto Rican adults with AD aged 65 and older and
compared results with the norms of a healthy Hispanic
population. Results: Participants with AD showed poor
verbal memory and learning followed by attention,
language, verbal fluency, visuospatial and motor deficits.
Additionally, having advanced age and low education
achievement showed a significant negative impact on
neurocognitive functioning. Conclusions: The pattern of
the neurocognitive deficits shown in Puerto Ricans with
AD are characteristic of a frontotemporal presentation of
the AD. Understanding this pattern may allow early AD
symptom detection and further neuropsychological
rehabilitation.
Keywords : Alzheimer’s Disease, Neurocognitive Domains, Neuropsychological Profile, Puerto Rico.