Predictive Utility of the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test with Alzheimers Patients

Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) data were analyzed for 57 elderly persons diagnosed as Alzheimers (mean age = 70.6 and mean length of hospitalization = 2.8 years). All patients had experienced cognitive/social group treatment five times per week for eight weeks, with post-treatment subgroup delineations, "improved" (N = 17), "not improved" (N = 24), made contingent upon pre/post behavior rating change scores. These two groups were then contrasted with regard to memory span, learning curve, recall, recognition, and delayed recall as generated from pretest Rey AVLT. Results disclose significant differences (p < .05) for recall, recognition, and learning, i.e., differences in scores (trials I-V), but not for memory span as measured by trial I, nor delayed recall. Present findings suggest predictive utility in that the Rey AVLT was able to identify cognitively impaired elderly who benefit from a rehabilitative group therapy experience.