ABSTRACT
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is classically characterized by the progressive accumulation of deficits affecting several cognitive domains, almost without any specific neurological signs. Neuropsychological studies have long been guided by the concept of a generalized and homogenous impairment in AD patients. Consequently, neuropsychologists have searched for a typical cognitive AD profile (“the essence” of AD deficits). The adoption of cognitive psychology concepts and methods in the neuropsychological approach of AD has largely modified this point of view (see Van der Linden, 1994; Venneri, Turnbull, & Della Sala, 1996).
