The ability of Alzheimer's disease patients to use everyday objects and the usefulness of a remote-control task

Abstract

Patients with Alzheimer's disease exhibit memory disturbance from an early stage, and later show difficultly using everyday objects. In addition, their impaired usage of electrical appliances is drawing attention. In this study, we conducted two investigations of Alzheimer's disease outpatients:an investigation into their ability to use everyday objects, and the evaluation of a task using a simple television remote controller (remote-control task).

In the initial investigation of their ability to use everyday objects, the patients frequently showed difficulty using electrical appliances, especially a television remote controller.

In the remote-control task, one quarter of the Alzheimer's disease patients showed an incorrect usage. The Alzheimer's disease patients could push the buttons of the remote controller without any difficulty, and the score of the remote-control task was also correlated with that of the MMSE. Overall, the results suggest that impaired remote controller usage is associated with the severity of dementia and another non-apraxic factor.