title: Knowledge of memory aging across the lifespan.
abstract: The authors examined knowledge of normal and pathological memory aging in a lifespan sample of 198 individuals who ranged in age from 13 to 88 years. Participants completed the Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire (Cherry, Brigman, Hawley, & Reese, 2003). The authors hypothesized that high school students would be less knowledgeable about memory aging issues than college students, middle-aged, and community-dwelling older adults. Consistent with this hypothesis, response accuracy was lower for high school students compared to their older counterparts. Follow-up analyses revealed that high school students' responses to a subset of questions that tap ageist views of adult cognition were less accurate than the other age groups, implying a response bias toward stereotypical images of memory aging. Implications for research and the design of instructional materials to increase people's knowledge about normative changes in adult cognition are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Louisiana State University.
authors.forename: Katie E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.forename: Blakeley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: Erin J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Smitherman
authors.forename: Bethany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lyon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D063506:Ageism / Q000523:psychology*; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; adult cognition; age-associated memory impairment; ageism; memory aging knowledge; normal and pathological memory deficits