Factor analysis of cognitive scores from 150 patients with Alzheimer's
disease yielded two orthogonal factors: one (Factor 1) loading high on
spontaneous speech, repetition, comprehension, reading, writing, digit
span, and left/right discrimination; the other (Factor 2) loading high on
long-term memory, orientation, object naming, and abstraction. Regression
analysis, controlled for education and disease duration, showed Factor 1
scores to be lower in early-onset patients and Factor 2 scores to be lower
in late-onset patients. These data corroborate results reported by previous
investigators and suggest that Alzheimer's disease is age-dependent and
heterogeneous in nature.Abstract Teaser