A-03 Executive and Memory Components of Prospective Memory in Aging and Dementia

Abstract

Abstract Objective Prospective memory (PM) involves remembering to perform an intended action in the future. PM is critical for older adults’ daily functioning. This ability is not a unitary construct, so in this study, we determined the roles of executive and memory functioning in different subtypes of PM, including simple PM (ability to execute a single action in the future) and complex PM (ability to execute different actions depending on the context). Method Participants included 58 healthy older adults, 64 persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 17 participants with Alzheimer’s disease. Simple PM was defined as remembering to ask the examiner for a pill after each neuropsychological test performed. Complex PM was defined as asking for the correct number of pills based on whether the test just completed involved memory (1 pill) or not (2 pills). An Executive composite score included Trail Making Test-B and FAS. The Memory composite score included delayed recall from the California Verbal Learning Test-II and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised. Results Whole group analyses showed that simple PM was significantly correlated with memory functions, and complex PM was significantly correlated with both memory and executive functions. Specific to the MCI group, regression analyses showed that executive and memory skills predicted both simple PM and complex PM. Conclusions These findings suggest that complex PM requires more executive demands than simple PM. For those with MCI, better executive and memory functions predicted PM generally. These findings indicate that both types of PM may be important for assessing the risk state for dementia.