Accelerated forgetting in subjects with memory complaints. A new form of Mild Cognitive Impairment?

A study was carried out to investigate accelerated forgetting of new verbal and visual material in participants complaining of memory loss, individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment(MCI) and controls. All groups were evaluated with a standard neuropsychological battery and two tests of delayed recall 6 weeks apart for the experimental tasks.Individuals with memory complaints,but not MCI, performed normally compared to controls on immediate and 30 minute recall,but showed a striking impairment in verbal and visual memory after 6 weeks. Accelerated forgetting may go undetected on standard neuropsychological evaluation in some patients complaining of memory problems.