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Celebrating Implicit Memory in People with Alzheimer's Disease

Célébrer la mémoire implicite chez les personnes atteintes par la maladie d’Alzheimer

The brain area that houses implicit memory is generally the last to be affected by Alzheimer's disease, which means that patients are often able to read or sing until the most advanced form of the disease1.

Long-term memory is divided into two types: explicit memory and implicit memory2.

  • Explicit memory is composed of two types of sub-memories: semantic memory, which summarizes theoretical knowledge of life, and episodic memory, which groups concrete memories of lived experiences3, 4.
  • Implicit memory is composed of three types of sub-memories: conditioned emotional memory, which summarizes emotional reflexes in response to certain events; priming memory, which allows finding the logical continuation of something started and known (music, drawing, slogan); and finally, procedural memory, which groups skills developed and eventually "acquired" through repeated performance (riding a bike, reading, walking) 3, 4.

To engage the procedural memory of your seniors in residence, here are some very simple activity ideas to do with them. It is important that you offer them activities they are likely to have done during their lives. Great moments guaranteed!

  • Recite basic and well-known prayers or religious songs;
  • Provide books or newspapers;
  • Have them complete known slogans or proverbs;
  • Offer coloring workshops.
Bibliography

1 Sluimer JD, van der Flier WM, Karas GB, van Schijndel R, Barnes J, Boyes RG, Cover KS, Olabarriaga SD, Fox NC, Scheltens P, Vrenken H, Barkhof F. (2009). Accelerating regional atrophy rates in the progression from normal aging to Alzheimer’s disease. doi: 10.1007/s00330-009-1512-5.

2 Squire LR (2004). Memory systems of the brain: A brief history and current perspective. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2004.06.005.

3 Squire LR, Dede AJO (2015). Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a021667.

4 France Alzheimer et maladie apparentées (2021). La mémoire à long terme et la mémoire à court terme.

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