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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2007 Aug-Sep;22(4):286–293. doi: 10.1177/1533317507303761

Preserved Implicit Memory in Dementia: A Potential Model for Care

Barbara E Harrison 1, Gwi-Ryung Son 2, Jiyoung Kim 3, Ann L Whall 4
PMCID: PMC10846121  PMID: 17712159

Abstract

A growing body of evidence supports the presence of a preserved implicit memory (PIM) system for persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). This article describes a new approach to dementia care, the PIM model, which translates evidence from implicit memory research into a practice model of dementia care. The PIM model predicts that function can be sustained longer for persons with AD through interventions and environments that activate an individual's PIM. Activation of PIM can occur with perceptual priming of familiar objects and reinforcement of learned motor skill memories within tasks. This practice model provides a new framework for planning and implementing dementia care that may preserve function for persons with Alzheimer's dementia.

Keywords: dementia, implicit memory, Alzheimer's, priming, motor skills, function

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Contributor Information

Barbara E. Harrison, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, harriso3@oakland.edu .

Gwi-Ryung Son, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Jiyoung Kim, University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center.

Ann L. Whall, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

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