title: Estimated prevalence of age-associated memory impairment derived from standardized tests of memory function.
abstract: Recent research on the prevalence of age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) has reflected considerable variability, with estimates ranging from 35% to 98%. This variability is attributed to (a) failure to employ the complete diagnostic criteria for AAMI and (b) failure to consider age as a variable in estimating prevalence. Analysis of published normative data on both standard clinical memory tests and computer-simulated everyday memory tests shows a clear increase in the percentage of persons meeting the AAMI memory performance criterion as a function of age. These data are offered as an upper-bound estimate of the prevalence of AAMI, by age decade.
authors.affiliation: Memory Assessment Clinics, Inc., Sarasota, Florida.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Larrabee
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Crook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000647:Amnesia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data