It is a commonly held view that memory deteriorates with age. However, this is a contentious issue and there is evidence to both support and contradict it. This paper reviews the literature which deals with such evidence; it then highlights the conditions under which older people learn most effectively and lastly considers techniques which have been used to minimize memory difficulties in such people.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BotwinickJThompsonLW. Age differences in reaction time: An artifact?Gerontologist1968; 8: 25–28.
2.
WelfordAT. Ageing and human skill. London: Oxford University Press, 1958.
PenfieldWMilnerB. The memory deficit produced by bilateral lesions in the hippocampal zone. Arch Neurol Psychiatry1958; 79: 475–97.
5.
MeyerV. Cognitive changes following temporal lobectomy for relief of temporal lobe epilepsy. AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry1959; 81: 299–309.
6.
HebbD. The organization of behaviour. New York: Science Editions Inc, 1961, quoted in Kral VA. Memories and engrams: A clinical viewpiont. Can J Psychiatry1979; 124(5): 423–30.
7.
KralVA. The amnestic syndrome. Monschft Psychiatry Neurol1956; 132: 65–80.
8.
HulickaJM. Age changes and age differences in memory functioning. Gerontologist1967; 7(2): 46–54.
9.
KlineDWSzafranJ. Age differences in backward monoptic visual noise masking. J Gerontol1975; 30: 307–11.
10.
McGhieAChapmanJLawsonJS. Changes in immediate memory with age. Br J Psychol1965; 56: 69–75.
11.
RabbittP. An age decrement in the ability to ignore irrelevant information. J Gerontol1965; 20: 233–8.
12.
WetherickNE. The inferential basis of concept attainment. Br J Psychol1966; 57: 61–69.
CarrollKGrayK. Memory development: An approach to the mentally impaired elderly in the long-term care setting. Int J Aging Human Dev1981; 13(1): 15–35.
29.
BrooksPDegunGMatherM. Reality orientation, a therapy for psychogeriatric patients: A controlled study. Br J Psychiatry1975; 127: 42–45.
30.
BelbinE, ‘Unlearning’ and its relationship to age. Ergonomics1964; 7: 418–22.
WoodsRTBrittonPG. Psychological approaches to the treatment of the elderly. Age Ageing1977; 6: 104–12.
33.
HarrisJEDunderlandA. A brief survey of the management of memory disorders in rehabilitation units in Britain. Int Rehabil Med1981; 3(4): 206–209.
34.
WilsonBMoffatN. Clinical management of memory problems. Beckenham: Croom Helm, 1984.
35.
RimmerL. Reality orientation, principles and practice. Winslow: Winslow Press, 1983.
36.
CraikFLockartR. Levels of processing: A framework for memory research. J Verb Learn Verb Behav1972; 11: 671–84.
37.
BaddeleyAHitchP. Working memory. In: BowerGH, ed. The psychology of learning and motivation: Advances in research and theory. Vol 8. London: Academic Press, 1974.