A new behavioural intervention to enhance memory in older people–evening autobiographical recall

J. Blackman; V. Gabb; D. Woodstoke; H. Morrison; M. Taylor; N. Turner; H. Li; B. Biswas; A. Heslegrave; A. Whone; L. Mickes; E. Coulthard

doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2025.109191

A new behavioural intervention to enhance memory in older people–evening autobiographical recall

J. Blackman, V. Gabb, D. Woodstoke, H. Morrison, M. Taylor, N. Turner, H. Li, B. Biswas, A. Heslegrave, A. Whone, L. Mickes, E. Coulthard

Department of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Episodic memory deteriorates with age and in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Interventions to enhance memory in these cohorts are limited and associated with disadvantages inherent in pharmaceuticals and in the cost/availability of formal cognitive enhancement programmes. Here we tested whether an autobiographical retrieval task could enhance performance in a separate word-list recognition task. The RESTED-AD Study (Remote Evaluation of Sleep To enhance understanding in Early Dementia) was a cohort study comprising individuals with AD MCI/early dementia and age-matched healthy controls (HC). Participants completed a word recognition task twice, with learning and test phases separated by sleep. On one occasion, participants wrote down 5 autobiographical events occurring in their day before bedtime (Autobiographical Condition). Episodic memory accuracy was compared in the Autobiographical vs Standard Condition. Sleep was recorded utilising a home-based EEG headband. Twenty-six participants (AD = 8, HC = 18, 5 Female) had mean (SD) age of 70.0 (6.6), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score of 26.1 (2.4). Full cohort accuracy score increased in the Autobiographical Condition [% Mean (SD) Standard = 82.0 (11.0), Autobiographical = 86.4 (8.1), Cohen's D = 0.452, p = 0.024]. This relationship maintained after correction for confounding variables and task order. After False Discovery correction, no evidence was found to support sleep-mediated mechanisms. Autobiographical memory evocation was positively associated with recognition memory performance in older adults and individuals with AD. As an intervention with no foreseeable risks, replication of this finding and further work to establish underlying mechanisms is warranted.

Original language	English
Article number	109191
Journal	Neuropsychologia
Volume	216
Early online date	4 Jun 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2025.109191
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 4 Jun 2025

Data Availability Statement

Data used and analysed in this current study are available from the first author on reasonable request.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre.
We would also like to thank the Bristol Bioresource Laboratories, Anglia Ruskin University Biomarker Lab, and UK DRI Fluid Biomarker Laboratory for providing their services and support for blood biomarker analysis.

Funding

JB is funded by a Clinical Research Training Fellowship grant from Alzheimer's Research UK (ARUK) supported by the Margaret Jost Fellowship and the Don Thoburn Memorial Scholarship and has also received funding from the David Telling Charitable Trust. BB receives EPSRC UKRI funding. HM has received BRACE Charity pilot project funding. Funding is also received from the Above and Beyond Charity.

Funders	Funder number
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Keywords

AD
Alzheimer's
Cognition
Dementia
Elderly
Intervention
MCI

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Behavioral Neuroscience

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Cite this

Blackman, J., Gabb, V., Woodstoke, D., Morrison, H., Taylor, M., Turner, N., Li, H., Biswas, B., Heslegrave, A., Whone, A., Mickes, L., & Coulthard, E. (2025). A new behavioural intervention to enhance memory in older people–evening autobiographical recall. Neuropsychologia, 216, Article 109191. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2025.109191

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abstract = "Episodic memory deteriorates with age and in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Interventions to enhance memory in these cohorts are limited and associated with disadvantages inherent in pharmaceuticals and in the cost/availability of formal cognitive enhancement programmes. Here we tested whether an autobiographical retrieval task could enhance performance in a separate word-list recognition task. The RESTED-AD Study (Remote Evaluation of Sleep To enhance understanding in Early Dementia) was a cohort study comprising individuals with AD MCI/early dementia and age-matched healthy controls (HC). Participants completed a word recognition task twice, with learning and test phases separated by sleep. On one occasion, participants wrote down 5 autobiographical events occurring in their day before bedtime (Autobiographical Condition). Episodic memory accuracy was compared in the Autobiographical vs Standard Condition. Sleep was recorded utilising a home-based EEG headband. Twenty-six participants (AD = 8, HC = 18, 5 Female) had mean (SD) age of 70.0 (6.6), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score of 26.1 (2.4). Full cohort accuracy score increased in the Autobiographical Condition [% Mean (SD) Standard = 82.0 (11.0), Autobiographical = 86.4 (8.1), Cohen's D = 0.452, p = 0.024]. This relationship maintained after correction for confounding variables and task order. After False Discovery correction, no evidence was found to support sleep-mediated mechanisms. Autobiographical memory evocation was positively associated with recognition memory performance in older adults and individuals with AD. As an intervention with no foreseeable risks, replication of this finding and further work to establish underlying mechanisms is warranted.",

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AU - Li, H.

AU - Biswas, B.

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AU - Whone, A.

AU - Mickes, L.

AU - Coulthard, E.

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A new behavioural intervention to enhance memory in older people–evening autobiographical recall

Abstract

Data Availability Statement

Acknowledgements

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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