Memory strategies promote independence during aging. We systematically reviewed literature on correlates and predictors of internal and external memory strategy use for older adults. Of 212 articles identified, 29 met inclusion criteria. Overall, increasing age was associated with decreasing internal but increasing external memory strategy use. Females reported more external memory strategy use, though findings were mixed regarding internal memory strategies. Clinical status appeared to alter the relationship between cognition and internal and external memory strategy use. There were mixed results regarding the relationship between memory strategy use and education, psychological functioning, and health variables. In addition to identifying areas for future research, we provide recommendations to develop primary prevention strategies for intervention and promote successful aging.
AndréN.FerrandC.AlbinetC.AudiffrenM. (2018). Cognitive strategies and physical activity in older adults: A discriminant analysis. Journal of Aging Research, 2018(4), 8917535. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8917535.
2.
BenderH. A.Spat-LemusJ. (2013). Cognitive training and rehabilitation in aging and dementia. In RavdinL. D.KatzenH. L. (Eds.), Handbook on the neuropsychology of aging and dementia (pp. 365–387). Springer.
3.
BouazzaouiB.IsingriniM.FayS.AngelL.VannesteS.ClarysD.TaconnatL. (2010). Aging and self-reported internal and external memory strategy uses: The role of executive functioning. Acta Psychologica, 135(1), 59–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2010.05.007.
4.
CauvinS.MoulinC. J. A.SouchayC.KliegelM.SchnitzspahnK. M. (2019). Prospective memory predictions in aging: increased overconfidence in older adults. Experimental Aging Research, 45(5), 436–459. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2019.1664471.
5.
CavanaughJ. C.GradyJ. G.PerlmutterM. (1983). Forgetting and use of memory aids in 20 to 70 year olds everyday life. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 17(2), 113–122. https://doi.org/10.2190/H7L2-K3XK-H32K-VW89.
6.
ChudobaL. A.Schmitter-EdgecombeM. (2020). Insight into memory and functional abilities in individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 42(8), 822–833. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2020.1817338.
7.
CohenJ. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
8.
de FriasC. M. (2014). Memory compensation in older adults: The role of health, emotion regulation, and trait mindfulness. Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 69(5), 678–685. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbt064.
9.
de FriasC. M.DixonR. A.BäckmanL. (2003). Use of memory compensation strategies is related to psychosocial and health indicators. Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58(1), P12–P22. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/58.1.P12.
10.
DixonR. A.de FriasC. M. (2004). The victoria longitudinal study: From characterizing cognitive aging to illustrating changes in memory compensation. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 11(2–3), 346–376. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825580490511161.
11.
DixonRoger, & de FriasCindy (2007). Mild Memory Deficits Differentially Affect 6-Year Changes in Compensatory Strategy Use. Psychology and Aging, 22(3), 632-638. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.22.3.632.
12.
DixonR. A.de FriasC. M. (2009). Long-term stability and variability in memory compensation among older adults: Evidence from the Victoria Longitudinal Study. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 41(11), 1091–1101. https://doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1041.2009.01091.
13.
DixonR. A.de FriasC. M.BäckmanL. (2001). Characteristics of self-reported memory compensation in older adults. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 23(5), 650–661. https://doi.org/10.1076/jcen.23.5.650.1242.
14.
DixonR. A.HoppG. A.CohenA.-L.de FriasC. M.BackmanL. (2003). Self-report memory compensation: Similar patterns in Alzheimer’s disease and very old adult samples. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 25(3), 382–390. https://doi.org/10.1076/jcen.25.3.382.13801.
15.
DixonR. A.HultschD. F. (1983). Structure and development of metamemory in adulthood. Journals of Gerontology, 38(6), 682–688. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/38.6.682.
16.
DixonR. A.HultschD. F.HertzogC. (1988). The metamemory in adulthood (MIA) questionnaire. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 24(4), 671–688.
17.
FortI.AdoulL.HollD.KaddourJ.GanaK. (2004). Psychometric properties of the French version of the multifactorial memory questionnaire for adults and the elderly. Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 23(4), 347–357. https://doi.org/10.1353/cja.2005.0020.
18.
FrankenmolenN. L.FasottiL.KesselsR. P. C.OostermanJ. M. (2018). The influence of cognitive reserve and age on the use of memory strategies. Experimental Aging Research, 44(2), 117–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2017.1422472.
19.
FrankenmolenN. L.OverdorpE. J.FasottiL.ClaassenJ. A. H. R.KesselsR. P. C.OostermanJ. M. (2017). Memory strategy use in older adults with subjective memory complaints. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 29(5), 1061–1065. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-016-0635-1.
20.
GarrettD. D.GradyC. L.HasherL. (2010). Everyday memory compensation: The impact of cognitive reserve, subjective memory, and stress. Psychology and Aging, 25(1), 74–83. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017726.
21.
HertzogC.LustigE.PearmanA.WarisA. (2019). Behaviors and strategies supporting everyday memory in older adults. Gerontology, 65(4), 419–429. https://doi.org/10.1159/000495910.
22.
HertzogC.SmallB. J.McFallG. P.DixonR. A. (2019). Age, cohort, and period effects on metamemory beliefs. Psychology and Aging, 34(8), 1077–1089. https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000384.
23.
HorhotaM.LineweaverT.OsiteluM.SummersK.HertzogC. (2012). Young and older adults’ beliefs about effective ways to mitigate age-related memory decline. Psychology and Aging, 27(2), 293–304. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026088.
24.
HudesR.RichJ. B.TroyerA. K.YusupovI.VandermorrisS. (2019). The impact of -memory-strategy training interventions on participant-reported outcomes in healthy older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology and Aging, 34(4), 587–597. https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000340.
25.
HutchensR. L.KinsellaG. J.OngB.PikeK. E.ParsonsS.StoreyE.AmesD.SalingM. M.MullalyE.RandE.ClareL. (2012). Knowledge and use of memory strategies in amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Psychology and Aging, 27(3), 768–777. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026256.
26.
LiberatiA.AltmanD. G.TetzlaffJ.MulrowC.GøtzscheP. C.IonnidisJ. P. A.ClarkeM.DevereauxP. J.KleijnenJ.MoherD. (2009). The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: Explanation and Elaboration. Plos Medicine, 6(7), e1000100. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000100.
27.
LinP.LamonicaH. M.NaismithS. L.MowszowskiL. (2020). Memory compensation strategies in older people with mild cognitive impairment. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 26(1), 86–96. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617719000912.
28.
LoewenE. R.ShawR. J.CraikF. I. M. (1990). Age differences in components of metamemory. Experimental Aging Research, 16(1–2), 43–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/03610739008253873.
29.
MartinS.MazzoccoC.MauryP.GrosselinA.Van der ElstW.DixonR. A.BrouilletD. (2015). Compensating for memory losses throughout aging: Validation and normalization of the memory compensation questionnaire (MCQ) for non-clinical French populations. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 60(1), 28–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2014.10.013.
30.
McDonald-MiszczakL.HertzogC.HultschD. F. (1995). Stability and accuracy of metamemory in adulthood and aging: A longitudinal analysis. Psychology and Aging, 10(4), 553–564. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.10.4.553.
31.
McDougallG. J. (1995a). Memory self-efficacy and strategy use in successful elders. Educational Gerontology, 21(4), 357–373. https://doi.org/10.1080/0360127950210406.
McDougallG. J.PituchK. A.StantonM. P.ChangW. (2014). Memory performance and affect: Are there gender differences in community-residing older adults?Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 35(8), 620–627. https://doi.org/10.3109/01612840.2014.895071.
34.
OwenA. M.HampshireA.GrahnJ. A.StentonR.DajaniS.BurnsA. S.HowardR. J.BallardC. G. (2010). Putting brain training to the test. Nature, 465(7299), 775–778. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09042.
PondsR. W. H. M.JollesJ. (1996). The abridged Dutch Metamemory in Adulthood (MIA) questionnaire: Structure and effects of age, sex, and education. Psychology and Aging, 11(2), 324–332. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.11.2.324.
37.
RaimoS.TrojanoL.SicilianoM.CuocoS.D’IorioA.SantangeloF.AbbamonteL.GrossiD.SantangeloG. (2016). Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the multifactorial memory questionnaire for adults and the elderly. Neurological Sciences, 37(5), 681–691. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2562-5.
38.
RebokG. W.CarlsonM. C.LangbaumJ. B. S. (2007). Training and maintaining memory abilities in healthy older adults: Traditional and novel approaches. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 62(1), 53–61. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/62.special_issue_1.53.
39.
Schmitter-EdgecombeM.ParseyC.LambR. (2014). Development and psychometric properties of the instrumental activities of daily living: Compensation scale. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 29(8), 776–792. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acu053.
40.
Schmitter-EdgecombeMaureenSumidaCatherine, & CookDiane (2020). Bridging the gap between performance-based assessment and self-reported everyday functioning: An ecological momentary assessment approach. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 34(4). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2020.1733097.
41.
SchryerE.RossM. (2013). The use and benefits of external memory aids in older and younger adults. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 27(5), 663–671. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.2946.
42.
SharitJ.CzajaS. J. (2020). Overcoming older adult barriers to learning through an understanding of perspectives on human information processing. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 39(3), 233–241. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464818794574.
43.
SmithG. E.ChandlerM.FieldsJ. A.AakreJ.LockeD. E. C. (2018). A survey of patient and partner outcome and treatment preferences in mild cognitive impairment. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 63(4), 1459–1468. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-171161.
44.
Tomaszewski FariasS.Schmitter-EdgecombeM.WeakleyA.HarveyD.DennyK. G.BarbaC.GravanoJ. T.GiovannettiT.WillisS. (2018). Compensation strategies in older adults: Association with cognition and everyday function. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, 33(3), 184–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317517753361.
45.
TournierI.PostalV. (2011). Effects of depressive symptoms and routinization on metamemory during adulthood. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 52(1), 46–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2010.01.019.
46.
TroyerA. K.RichJ. B. (2002). Psychometric properties of a new metamemory questionnaire for older adults. Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 57(1), P19–P27. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/57.1.P19.
47.
Van der ElstW.HoogenhoutE. M.DixonR. A.De GrootR. H. M.JollesJ. (2011). The Dutch memory compensation questionnaire: Psychometric properties and regression-based norms. Assessment, 18(4), 517–529. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191110370116.
48.
WeakleyA.WeakleyA. T.Schmitter-EdgecombeM. (2019). Compensatory strategy use improves real-world functional performance in community dwelling older adults. Neuropsychology, 33(8), 1121–1135. https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000591.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
