Centre for Policy on Ageing
 

 
Verbal and nonverbal episodic memory performance in a 2-year longitudinal study of optimally healthy very old adults
Author(s)Lars Bäckman, Robert D Hill, Agneta Herlitz
Journal titleJournal of Mental Health and Aging, vol 4, no 1, Spring 1998
Pagespp 139-154
KeywordsOver 70s ; Good Health ; Memory and Reminiscence ; Longitudinal surveys ; Sweden.
AnnotationA sample of 57 Swedish people living in the community, aged between 76 and 87 in optimal physical and mental health from the Kungsholmen Project, Stockholm received a battery of episodic memory tasks and measures of performance IQ (PIQ) at baseline, and after one and two years. There was modest but reliable improvement of both verbal and non-verbal memory performance after one year, followed by stability after two years. No predictor variable was related to rate of change in the first year, but PIQ influenced rate of change in verbal memory after two years. Overall, changes in episodic memory in very old age may not necessarily be characterised by decline. Specifically, healthy older people may show stability and, in some instances, practice-related gains in verbal and non-verbal episodic memory. The potential for performance gains over time may be greatest for the most cognitively able individuals. (RH).
Accession NumberCPA-981110211 A
ClassmarkBBK: CD: DB: 3J: 76P

Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing
...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.
 
CPA home >> Ageinfo Database >> Queries to: webmaster@cpa.org.uk