Certain kinds of memory may be more intact in Alzheimer's patients than what researchers so far have suggested, according to a UC Davis researcher. So-called semantic memory, a person's knowledge of the world, including such areas as language, objects, words, sounds and smells, exists in Alzheimer's patients involved in studies by Beth Ober, a professor of human development. Supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging and the Department of Veteran Affairs, Ober uses simple tests to investigate what kinds of memory may still function in Alzheimer's patients. "I have yet to find a convincing demonstration of actual loss of concepts from semantic memory," Ober told those gathered at a recent international meeting of the Memory Disorders Research Society. This type of long-term memory is very different from day-to-day memory, such as recalling a conversation held earlier in the day. The short-term memory is seriously disrupted in those with Alzheimer's, Ober notes. She says her results may have significant treatment implications, including the possible revision of how memory is assessed. Her findings may also help family members who may be able to draw upon the patient's world knowledge as they interact with the patient daily.