Learning, forgetting, and retrieval of everyday material across the adult life span.
Levels and rates of acquisition and amounts of forgetting of name-face associations and grocery list items were assessed in a sample of 1,921 normal participants that was divided into five age groups (i.e., 17-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+). Retrieval was assessed via the consistent long-term retrieval score (CLTR) from the Grocery List Selective Reminding Test (GLSRT). Substantial linear age-associated declines in level of acquisition were noted for both name-face associations and grocery list items. There was a significant age-related drop in rate of acquisition of name-face associations. Remarkably, very little forgetting occurred over a 40-min delay at any age on either measure. There was a significant linear age-related decline in retrieval efficiency for grocery list items, when variance due to both level of acquisition and retention was removed. The nature of age-associated memory decline and its possible neuroanatomic correlates is discussed.
Youngjohn
J R
JR
Memory Assessment Clinics, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ 85251.
Crook
T H
TH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged