Differential Patterns of Semantic Clustering in the Verbal Learning Process in Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease

Objectives: Semantic clustering is a memory strategy that enhances recall performance. The Ratio of Semantic Clustering (RSC) quantifies the use of this strategy, with a decline in RSC indicating episodic memory impairment. This study examines differences in recall accuracy and RSC in young adults, older adults, and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in immediate (IMM) and delayed (DEL) recall conditions.Methods: Eighty participants (30 young adults, 42 older adults, and 8 individuals with AD) completed the Seoul Verbal Learning Test (SVLT), which consists of IMM and DEL recall tasks. Ancova was conducted to compare the accuracy and RSC across SVLT types (IMM, DEL). Pearson correlation analyses were performed for each group to examine the relationship between accuracy and RSC across recall conditions.Results: Individuals with AD showed lower recall accuracy in delayed recall compared to immediate recall. In contrast, young adults demonstrated increased recall accuracy and RSC in delayed recall, indicating greater use of semantic clustering strategies. Moreover, young adults exhibited strong positive correlations between recall accuracy and RSC across all recall tasks, whereas older adults showed significant correlations only in delayed recall.Conclusion: These findings suggest that strategic memory processes are relatively well-preserved in young adults, whereas the reduced use of semantic clustering in older adults and individuals with AD may indicate cognitive decline.