Abstract
Subjective memory impairment is a major complaint among older adults; however, research is conflicting regarding the relationship between subjective memory impairment and objectively measured memory loss. Here, individuals with mild memory impairment completed the memory subscale of the Cognistat as a measure of objective memory, and the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MCQ) as a measure of subjective memory, prior to and following a 3-month memory training program. Results revealed that individuals with more, compared with fewer, memory complaints performed worse on the Cognistat. Additionally, increased Cognistat performance fol-lowing the memory training procedure was associated with decreased MCQ measured complaints. There was suggestive evidence that the memory training procedure improved memory, and thus future research is warranted. These findings imply that older, memory-impaired, adults, despite their memory impairment, are indeed able to judge, and may be accurately concerned with, the extent of their own memory loss. It should be noted that serious statistical limitations here indicate the need for replication to confirm the validity of the findings.
Highlights
Subjective memory impairment is a major complaint among older adults
Comparison of the two complaint groups on performance of the Cognistat Memory subscale at Time 1 revealed that HCG ( x = 4.44; sd = 3.32) scored significantly lower than LCG ( x = 6.26, sd = 3.13; t (93) = 2.72, p ≤ 0.001), indicating that individuals with a larger number of memory complaints performed worse on a memory test at Time 1, prior to any training
These findings suggest that memory complaints, in relatively healthy older adults, should be taken seriously and as a potential indicator of objective memory disturbance, and with the possibility that cognitive rehabilitation therapy might improve memory deficits
Summary
Subjective memory impairment is a major complaint among older adults. Interestingly, research is conflictingHow to cite this paper: Magaro, P.A., Brotter, B. and Jalees, M. (2015) A Brief Report Investigating Subjective and Objective Memory Pre- and Post-Memory Training in 70- to 96-Year-Old Individuals with Mild Memory Deficit. Subjective memory impairment is a major complaint among older adults. (2015) A Brief Report Investigating Subjective and Objective Memory Pre- and Post-Memory Training in 70- to 96-Year-Old Individuals with Mild Memory Deficit. One study reported the extraordinary finding that 94% of memory-impaired older adults had no subjective memory complaints; there were no differences between “complainers” and “non-complainers” in objective memory performance [2]. Another study examined healthy individuals who did not show an objective memory deficit, but who reported a subjective memory deficit that was problematic enough that they self-referred to an aging/dementia clinic [5]. After 3 years, participants who subjectively described impaired memory, but did not show deficits on objective tests, demonstrated no decline in memory. Despite the maintenance of their memory ability over time, their complaints did not diminish
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