Types of Intrusions in Verbal Fluency Tasks in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Longitudinal Analysis

Research shows intrusions in memory tests can predict cognitive impairment in abnormal aging. However, there still is a need for additional research regarding the association of intrusions in verbal fluency tasks and clinical diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. The aim of my master’s thesis research is to determine if there is an association between intrusion totals in verbal fluency tasks and diagnosis, longitudinally (across 3 years), if there are significant differences between category and phonemic fluency tasks in intrusion total scores, and if progression from CN to MCI or dementia and from MCI to dementia can be indicated through differences in intrusion scores. Results indicated that intrusions are significantly associated with diagnosis in Phonemic fluency tasks, however this was not the case in progressors versus non-progressors.