Beyond the Memory Test: Why the Future of Cognitive Assessment Must Be Multidimensional
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Memory loss has long been considered the defining hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. But there is more to the disease than misplaced keys, forgotten names, and other memory lapses. Reducing Alzheimer’s to memory alone oversimplifies a disease that affects multiple aspects of thinking, behavior, and daily functioning.
As researchers develop more sophisticated biomarkers, disease-modifying therapies, and prevention strategies, they also recognize that the tools used to measure cognition must evolve. Alzheimer’s affects far more than memory, and understanding the disease requires assessing the full range of cognitive and behavioral changes that patients experience.
This theme emerged during the third episode of “The Progress Profile: Alzheimer’s Research in Focus,” in which Maria Carrillo, Ph.D., chief science officer and medical affairs lead at the Alzheimer’s Association, joined moderator Dr. John Harrison to discuss why the field is broadening its view of cognitive decline.
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