Four Common Beliefs About Patient Memory Evaluations: Who Has Them and What Modifies Them?
Abstract
Understanding public beliefs about patients at memory centers may inform efforts to promote early diagnosis and guide clinical discussions of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Adults (N=3,527) read a vignette describing a fictional person at a memory center and rated the person’s condition as a mental illness, part of typical aging, and psychological or biological origins. Vignettes varied by AD biomarker result, symptom stage, and treatment availability. Participants most strongly believed that the condition was part of typical aging and biological in origin, though beliefs varied across subgroups. Black and Asian participants reported stronger beliefs than White participants that the condition was a mental illness ( β =0.39, P
Fields of Study & Subjects
Memory Processes and Influences
Cognitive Functions and Memory
Traumatic Brain Injury Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- American Journal of Alzheimer s Disease & Other Dementias®
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Volume
- 41
- Pages
- 15333175261447038–15333175261447038
- Publication date
- 1 May 2026
- Language
- EN