title: Learning mnemonics: roles of aging and subtle cognitive impairment.
abstract: Previously validated methods of memory training were used in conjunction with the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to explore the relationship between complexity of learned mnemonic, aging, and subtle cognitive impairment. Subjects were 218 community-dwelling elderly. Treatment included imagery mnemonics for remembering names and faces and lists. There was a significant interaction among age, type of learning task (face-name vs. list), and improvement when controlling for MMSE score. There was also a significant interaction among MMSE score, type of learning task, and improvement when controlling for age. Scores on the more complex list-learning mnemonic were more affected by age and MMSE scores than were scores on the face-name mnemonic. Implications of the findings for cognitive training of the old old and the impaired are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center for the Study of Senile Dementia, Palo Alto VA Medical Center, California 94304.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yesavage
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tanke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004493:Education; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged