Abstract
This study addresses the relationship between subjective evaluation of memory and objective cognitive dysfunction in old-old age. In a sample of 164 participants (mean age 91.9, range 87-106) drawn from a nationwide Israeli survey, 42% evaluated their memory positively and 30% negatively. Participants were no more concerned about being forgetful than younger adults. Subjective memory and concern about forgetfulness were not significantly correlated with cognitive dysfunction. Sociodemographic, physical, and well-being characteristics explained three times more variance of cognitive dysfunction than of subjective memory. The study suggests that subjective memory among old-old people who can undergo a survey interview may not reflect actual cognitive dysfunction. Apparently, the role of subjective evaluation resides in other areas of adaptation to very old age.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 294-315 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | Clinical Gerontologist |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The first two waves of the Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Aging Study (CALAS) were funded by grants from the U.S. National Institute on Aging (R01-5885-03 and R01-5885-06) and conducted by the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center. The third wave of data collection and continued work were conducted by the Herczeg Institute on Aging at Tel Aviv University, supported by the Israel Academy of Science (grant 1041-541), the Israel National Institute for Health Policy (grant R/17/2001), and a donation from Ellern Foundation. We are grateful for the assistance provided by Yoni Pinkas, Yaron Sela, Sharon Avidor, and Aviad Orbach.
Funding
The first two waves of the Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Aging Study (CALAS) were funded by grants from the U.S. National Institute on Aging (R01-5885-03 and R01-5885-06) and conducted by the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center. The third wave of data collection and continued work were conducted by the Herczeg Institute on Aging at Tel Aviv University, supported by the Israel Academy of Science (grant 1041-541), the Israel National Institute for Health Policy (grant R/17/2001), and a donation from Ellern Foundation. We are grateful for the assistance provided by Yoni Pinkas, Yaron Sela, Sharon Avidor, and Aviad Orbach.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Department of Clinical Epidemiology at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center | |
| Ellern Foundation | |
| Herczeg Institute on Aging | |
| Israel Academy of Science | 1041-541 |
| National Institute on Aging | R01-5885-06, R01-5885-03 |
| Israel National Institute for Health Policy Research | R/17/2001 |
| Tel Aviv University |
Keywords
- aging
- cognitive dysfunction
- cognitive functioning
- memory complaints
- old-old
- subjective memory