Age-associated memory impairment diagnoses: problems of reliability and concerns for terminology.
Objective memory criteria for diagnosing age-associated memory impairment (AAMI), age-consistent memory impairment, and late-life forgetfulness (LLF) were applied to 523 cognitively normal older persons divided into 2 groups on the basis of the clinical memory assessment battery they received. Seventy-seven percent of Group 2 and 98% of Group 1 met the Crook et al. (1986) cognitive criteria for AAMI on at least 1 test. Rates based on individual tests varied from 7% to 96%. Objective-cognitive criteria for LLF were met by no members of Group 1 but by 31% of Group 2. Results suggest that, as proposed, the criteria for age-related diagnoses lack reliability. Concerns regarding the diagnosis of normal memory in older populations are considered.
Smith
G
G
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
Ivnik
R J
RJ
Petersen
R C
RC
Malec
J F
JF
Kokmen
E
E
Tangalos
E
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values