Normal aging and forgetting rates on the wechsler memory scale-revised
Document Type
Article
Abstract
The deleterious effects of aging on various cognitive abilities are widely recognized, yet little is known regarding what constitutes "normal" memory test performance in individuals over the age of 74. In this study, forgetting rates for verbal and nonverbal material from the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) were examined in groups of older healthy individuals, age 50-70 and 75-95. Despite equivalent scores on measures of global cognitive status and attention/ concentration, the older group demonstrated significantly more rapid forgetting rates on the Visual Reproduction, Verbal Paired Associates, and Visual Paired Associates subtests of the WMS-R. Although patients with Alzheimer's disease also evidence very rapid forgetting on some subtests, the severity and pattern of losses appears useful in differentiating "abnormal" forgetting from that exhibited by normal elderly subjects. Preliminary normative data for normal elderly subjects on the WMS-R are presented, and the need for appropriate norms for elderly individuals is discussed. © 1990.
Publication Date
1-1-1990
Publication Title
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
ISSN
08876177
Volume
5
Issue
1
First Page
23
Last Page
30
PubMed ID
14589541
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/0887-6177(90)90004-9
Recommended Citation
Munro Cullum, C.; Butters, Nelson; Tröster, Alexander I.; and Salmon, David P., "Normal aging and forgetting rates on the wechsler memory scale-revised" (1990). Clinical Neuropsychology. 105.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neuropsychology/105