Mediating Role of Inhibition Control in the Relationship Between Age and Memory Changes Throughout Adulthood: An Aging Developmental Study in Iran

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the age trends of various types of memory including priming, working memory (WM), episodic memory (EM), and semantic memory (SM) from adulthood to old age, as well as the mediating role of inhibition control (IC) in the relation between age and memory. Methods: 796 healthy adults aged between 25 and 83 years participated in this cross-sectional study and were assessed using a comprehensive battery of memory, digit span, and the Stroop Color-Word tests Results: The scatter plot with LOESS fitting line showed EM and WM declined steadily from age 25, SM increased mildly to 55 followed by a decrease, and priming did not change with age. The mediating analysis and bootstrap test showed that IC mediated the relation between age and EM and SM (β= – 0.097, P=0.002), and SM (β= – 0.086, P=0.001). Conclusions: Our results showed that age and various types of memory had different trajectories and IC is a fundamental mediator in explaining age related decline in SM and EM.