Episodic memory and Alzheimer’s disease: evolution of theories and clinical assessment tools

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by an impairment of episodic memory in the early stages of the disease. Neuropsychological evaluation is performed for diagnostic purposes and to personalize follow-up. However, although many tests have been developed over the last few decades, not all of them seem to be able to meet this dual challenge. Through a review of the evolution of the concept of episodic memory and of knowledge about the disease, we discuss how neuropsychological tools have adapted. We question the interests and limits of existing tools for patients with Alzheimer's disease. At the end of this review, we suggest the criteria to be taken into account in order to propose a more integrative evaluation, able to describe the difficulties encountered as close as possible to the lived experience.