Do you believe memory worsens with age? You better not!

William Atkins
Thursday, 23 April 2009 20:27

Science - Health

Their article Moderators of and Mechanisms Underlying Stereotype Threat Effects on Older Adults' Memory Performance was published in the journal Experimental Aging Research (volume 35, issue 2, April 2009, pages 153-177).

Their paper concluded with, “These findings highlight the specificity of stereotype threat effects in later adulthood as well as possible mechanisms underlying such effects.”

Hess also concludes,"The take-home message is that social factors may have a negative effect on older adults' memory performance."

To learn more about age and memory, please read the FamilyDoctor.org article "Memory Loss With Aging: What's Normal, What's Not."

In part, it states, "When you're in your 20s, you begin to lose brain cells a few at a time. Your body also starts to make less of the chemicals your brain cells need to work. The older you are, the more these changes can affect your memory."

And, "Aging may affect memory by changing the way the brain stores information and by making it harder to recall stored information."

Thus, "Your short-term and remote memories aren't usually affected by aging. But your recent memory may be affected. For example, you may forget names of people you've met recently. These are normal changes."