Evaluation of a Neuropsychological Tool to Assess Temporal Processing Abilities in Alzheimer's Disease

Plain-language summary

Perceiving and representing the passage of time allows us to temporally organize perceptions and memories for the coordination of actions, planning, and the mobilization of cognitive processes toward a goal. This innovative project aims to clarify the profile of time impairment associated with normal aging and the progression of age-related pathologies. This project proposes to develop a new neuropsychological tool for quantifying and preventing changes in the relationship to time associated with Alzheimer's disease. Four aspects of time are distinguished, which are measured separately and distributed along a continuum between perception and memory: (a) perception of simultaneity and order; (b) processing of durations; (c) subjective sense of the passage of time; and (d) mental time travel. Crucially, many neurological and psychiatric disorders are associated with impairment in one or more aspects of time. However, time remains largely unexplored in clinical practice. Patients with Alzheimer's disease will complete the CHRONOS battery. This battery allows for a rapid assessment (approximately ten minutes) of the four aspects of time. This new battery will enable the identification of behavioral markers aimed at improving prognosis and prevention regarding individual cognitive trajectories of aging. The relationship to time is closely linked to each person's personal experience. This project will help to put into words difficulties that are not always expressed in terms of time. Thus, considering these pathologies from the perspective of time aims to better understand and prevent their difficulties and to guide the identification of new markers and new avenues for remediation.

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