Research is presented from three different cognitive aging laboratories that examines the
relationship between cognitive function, age, and the ability to adhere to medication regimens.
The first section focuses on the effectiveness of complete, explicit instructions that emphasize
the importance of organization of medication information on adherence behaviors for both
younger and older adults. The second section examines the role of literal versus inferential
medication information in normal elderly and in Alzheimer's patients. This research demonstrates that traditional measures of cognitive functioning are correlated with the comprehension
of medication information and medication adherence. Finally, the third section presents an
overview of research issues m adherence, including the relative effectiveness of two adherence
measurement techniques, as well as a discussion of the effects of illness beliefs on adherence
and evidence that adherence is not a global behavior but may vary within the individual as a
function of certain medications. Directions for future research are suggested.
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