Is working memory affective in dementia of alzheimer’s type?

Background: The aim of the present study was to examine whether patients with Dementia of Alzheimer’s Type (DAT) show a working memory emotional enhancement effect. Methods: We used an affective version of the working memory operation span test that included negative and positive words as well as neutral ones (as in the classical version). Results: Results showed that while healthy older adults performed better with emotional compared to neutral words, emotional effects were nullified in DAT patients. Conclusions: Altogether, results indicate that DAT patients do not benefit from emotional cues when maintenance and manipulation of information in working memory are required.