[Memory and learning abilities in everyday life of the elderly].
Self-evaluations by adults (varying in age from 45-92 years) of their memory and learning abilities were investigated and related to performance on laboratory and ecological memory tasks. Hardly any association was found between subjective and objective measures. Self-evaluations were strongly influenced by (systematically varied) frames of reference: optimistic in comparisons with other people, pessimistic in comparisons with their own previous level of functioning. The most frequent problems were 'learning something new' and 'remembering names'. In contrast to external memory aids, cognitive strategies were rarely used spontaneously. Strategy training led to significant improvement of performance, that remained stable at follow-up. A further opportunity for improving performance was realized by ergonomic adaptations of computerized systems (teleshopping). Problems in learning to use such systems were strongly reduced by decreasing the load on working memory and by adapting the system to existing knowledge and skills of the users. A general observation in the different projects was that age-differences could explain only a small percentage of the variance in subjective and objective memory measures.
Neuropsychologie en Gerontologie, Rijksuniversiteit, Groningen. I.J.Berg@PPSW.RUG.NL
I J
IJ
Berg
W H
WH
Brouwer
B G
BG
Deelman
I W
IW
Schmidt
J A
JA
Sikken
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003197:Computer Literacy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012647:Self-Assessment