title: Knowledge of memory aging and Alzheimer's disease in college students and mental health professionals.
abstract: In this study, college students and mental health professionals completed the Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire, Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test and the Fraboni Scale of Ageism before and after a lecture on normal and pathological memory issues in adulthood. Results confirmed that professionals were more knowledgeable about memory aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and less ageist than college students. Analyses of pre- and post-lecture response accuracy yielded comparable benefits in memory aging and AD knowledge for both groups. Correlation analyses provided modest evidence for the influence of ageist attitudes on the knowledge measures. Implications for memory education programs and psychology curriculum are considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Katie E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Smitherman
authors.forename: Karri S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hawley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D011361:Professional Competence; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities