Memory characteristics in Parkinson's disease.

ABSTRACT

With regard to Parkinson's disease there are contradictory opinions concerning whether the severity of the disease, the patient's age, or the application of aids influence the patient's short term memory. In a 4 X 2 X 2 semifactorial design these conditions were tested on 24 healthy persons and 72 patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. The stimulus material consisted of 30 nouns belonging to 6 categories. The severity of the disease, the age of the patients, and the interaction between severity and assistance determined conditions of the patient's memory achievement.