Faculty Articles

Impaired Depth Perception Discriminates Alzheimer's Dementia from Aging and Major Depression

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology

ISSN

0887-6177

Publication Date

2-1994

Abstract

Parietal and temporal lesions are known to impair binocular depth perception. Clinically meaningful impairment was therefore suspected due to early degeneration of these regions in Alzheimer's dementia. Results supported the cortical localization described in focal lesion studies. Deficient stereopsis was common in dementia (80%) but relatively uncommon in elderly normals (14%) and major depressives with cognitive symptoms (31%). Performance was unrelated to age, IQ, or severity of cognitive impairment. Testing involves minimal patient effort and time (1–2 min). Stereopsis examination may be useful in the diagnosis of early dementia, and may reduce false positives associated with depression, limited premorbid ability, or normal aging.

DOI

10.1016/0887-6177(94)90015-9

Volume

9

Issue

1

First Page

71

Last Page

79

Peer Reviewed

Find in your library

Share

COinS