3rd Edition of Dementia World Conference 2026

Abstract

Abstract Background: Autobiographical memory impairment is an important cognitive feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but semantic and episodic components may be differentially affected. Remembering also frequently occurs collaboratively with close others, particularly caregivers. However, the relationship between collaborative remembering and autobiographical recall in early-stage AD remains unclear. This study examined semantic and episodic autobiographical memory, as well as collaborative remembering, within patient–caregiver dyads. Methods: Thirteen patient–caregiver dyads participated, comprising six dyads involving individuals with early-stage AD and seven healthy-control dyads. Autobiographical memory was assessed using the Autobiographical Memory Interview–Short Form. All dyads completed three sequential recall conditions: initial individual recall, collaborative recall with the caregiver, and subsequent final individual recall. Recall was coded for internal and external details. Within-group and exploratory between-group comparisons were conducted. Results: Within the AD group, semantic autobiographical memory (M = 34.33, SD = 3.88) was substantially higher than episodic autobiographical memory (M = 9.00, SD = 3.03), t(5) = 12.39, p < .001, dz = 5.06; the exact Wilcoxon test was also significant (p = .031). Total correct details increased descriptively from initial individual recall (M = 22.67) to collaborative recall (M = 28.17), but this difference was not statistically significant, t(5) = −1.46, p = .205, dz = 0.59; exact Wilcoxon p = .313. Total correct details at final individual recall did not differ significantly from initial individual recall, t(5) = 1.37, p = .228. Exploratory comparisons indicated lower semantic and total AMI-SF scores in the AD group than in healthy controls. In contrast, episodic AMI-SF scores and recall-task differences were not statistically significant. Discussion: The findings demonstrate a pronounced semantic–episodic dissociation in autobiographical memory among individuals with early-stage AD, with semantic autobiographical memory substantially exceeding episodic autobiographical memory. Although collaborative recall was associated with a descriptive increase in the total number of correct details relative to initial individual recall, this difference was not statistically significant. Similarly, final individual recall did not differ significantly from initial individual recall. Thus, the present findings do not demonstrate a statistically significant change in individual autobiographical recall across the initial and subsequent individual recall conditions following collaborative remembering. Conclusion: The findings provide evidence of a marked semantic–episodic dissociation in autobiographical memory in early-stage AD and a preliminary examination of collaborative remembering within patient–caregiver dyads. Although collaborative recall yielded descriptively more total correct details than initial individual recall, this difference was not statistically significant. Larger dyadic studies are needed to clarify the role of collaborative remembering in the retrieval of autobiographical details and subsequent individual recall in Alzheimer’s disease. Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; autobiographical memory; collaborative remembering; semantic–episodic dissociation; patient–caregiver dyads