Subjective memory assessment and test performance in elderly adults.
The everyday memory of a group of elderly adults was assessed using techniques developed for use with younger head-injured people (Sunderland et al., 1983). The participants completed a memory questionnaire and a daily checklist; their spouses gave their assessment using a separate questionnaire. These subjective methods showed only moderate agreement, and the questionnaire had low test-retest reliability. It appears that these methods of subjective memory assessment have little validity when used with normal elderly adults. Two positive findings did emerge: As in previous studies, a story recall test was the strongest predictor of reported memory performance; and despite a universal belief among elderly adults that their memory had deteriorated with age, very few of them felt that they were at all handicapped by forgetfulness in everyday life.
Sunderland
A
A
Watts
K
K
Baddeley
A D
AD
Harris
J E
JE
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014825:Vocabulary