Retrospective and Prospective Memory in Healthy and Cognitively Impaired Older Adults: Using Subjective and Objective Assessment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Retrospective and prospective memory in healthy and cognitively impaired older adults: Using subjective and objective assessment Jennifer A. Foley Doctorate in Clinical Psychology The University of Edinburgh 2007 DClinPsychol Declaration of own work This sheet must be filled in (each box ticked to show that the condition has been met), signed and dated, and included with all assessments - work will not be marked unless this is done Name: JENNIFER A. FOLEY Assessed work Case Study SSR Essay Question Paper Thesis Title of work: Retrospective and prospective memory in healthy and cognitively impaired older adults: Using subjective and objective assessment. I confirm that all this work is my own except where indicated, and that I have: • Composed and undertaken the work myself X • Clearly referenced/listed all sources as appropriate X • Referenced and put in inverted commas any quoted text of more than three words (from books, web, etc) X • Given the sources of all pictures, data etc. that are not my own X • Not made undue use of essay(s) of any other student(s) either past or present (or where used, this has been referenced appropriately) X • Not sought or used the help of any external professional agencies for the work (or where used, this has been referenced appropriately) X • Not submitted the work for any other degree or professional qualification except as specified X • Acknowledged in appropriate places any help that I have received from others (e.g. fellow students, technicians, statisticians, external sources) X I understand that any false claim for this work will be penalised in accordance with the University regulations X Signature Date 27.07.07 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.....................................................................................vii ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................viii CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION............................................................................ 1 1.1 What is memory? ............................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Definition of memory.................................................................................. 1 1.1.2 Taxonomy of memory................................................................................. 1 1.1.3 Retrospective memory ................................................................................ 3 1.1.4 Prospective memory.................................................................................. 10 1.2 Memory and normal ageing ............................................................................. 16 1.2.1 Normal ageing........................................................................................... 16 1.2.2 Retrospective memory and normal ageing................................................ 19 1.2.3 Prospective memory and normal ageing................................................... 24 1.3 Non-age associated memory decline................................................................ 31 1.3.1 Causes of non-age associated memory decline......................................... 31 1.3.2 Retrospective memory and dementia of the Alzheimer type.................... 40 1.3.3 Prospective memory and dementia of the Alzheimer type ....................... 42 1.4 Assessment of memory .................................................................................... 46 1.4.1 Subjective assessment of memory ............................................................ 46 1.4.2 Objective assessment of memory.............................................................. 48 1.5 Current study.................................................................................................... 50 1.5.1 Aim............................................................................................................ 50 1.5.2 Hypotheses ................................................................................................ 50 CHAPTER 2 – METHODOLOGY........................................................................ 53 2.1 Design .............................................................................................................. 53 2.1.1 Literature review search strategy .............................................................. 53 2.1.2 Current study design ................................................................................. 54 2.1.3 Ethical considerations ............................................................................... 55 2.2 Materials........................................................................................................... 56 2.2.1 Demographic information......................................................................... 57 2.2.2 Standardised assessment ........................................................................... 57 2.3 Participants....................................................................................................... 64 i 2.3.1 Healthy older adult participants ................................................................ 64 2.3.2 Cognitively impaired older adult participants........................................... 65 2.3.3 Determining sample size and power ......................................................... 65 2.4 Procedure.......................................................................................................... 66 2.4.1 Contacting research participants and obtaining their consent................... 66 2.4.2 Administration of the measures ................................................................ 67 CHAPTER 3 – RESULTS....................................................................................... 68 3.1 Analytical strategy ........................................................................................... 68 3.2 Descriptive statistical analysis ......................................................................... 70 3.2.1 Total sample.............................................................................................. 70 3.2.2 Healthy older adult participants ................................................................ 70 3.2.3 Cognitively impaired older adult participants........................................... 70 3.2.4 Group comparison..................................................................................... 73 3.3 Inferential statistical analysis ........................................................................... 73 3.3.1 Hypothesis 1.............................................................................................. 73 3.3.2 Hypothesis 2.............................................................................................. 75 3.3.3 Hypothesis 3.............................................................................................. 78 3.3.4 Hypothesis 4.............................................................................................. 81 3.3.5 Overall Summary ...................................................................................... 95 CHAPTER 4 – DISCUSSION................................................................................. 96 4.1 Discussion of main findings............................................................................. 96 4.1.1 Does retrospective and prospective memory functioning deteriorate with the onset of dementia?........................................................................................ 96 4.1.2 Are retrospective and prospective memory functioning equal in healthy old age? .............................................................................................................. 96 4.1.3 Are retrospective and prospective memory functioning equal in dementia? .......................................................................................................................... 100 4.1.4 Is insight into mnemonic functioning associated with severity of cognitive impairment?...................................................................................................... 102 4.2 Strengths and limitations of the study............................................................ 107 4.2.1 Statistical power analysis ........................................................................ 107 4.2.2 Design ..................................................................................................... 108 4.2.3 Recruitment............................................................................................. 109 4.2.4 Measures ................................................................................................. 110 4.3 Future research............................................................................................... 111 4.4 Clinical implications ...................................................................................... 111 4.5 Summary ........................................................................................................ 113 REFERENCES....................................................................................................... 115 ii APPENDICES ........................................................................................................ 137 Appendix 1 – Ethics approval.............................................................................