TY - JOUR
T1 - Between the Subjective and the Objective
T2 - How Informative Is Subjective Evaluation of Memory Among the Old-Old?
AU - Shmotkin, Dov
AU - Eyal, Nitza
AU - Hazan, Haim
AU - Shkolnik, Tamar
AU - Shorek, Aviva
AU - Cohen-Mansfield, Jiska
N1 - Funding Information:
The first two waves of the Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Aging Study (CALAS) were funded by grants from the U.S. National Institute on Aging (R01-5885-03 and R01-5885-06) and conducted by the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center. The third wave of data collection and continued work were conducted by the Herczeg Institute on Aging at Tel Aviv University, supported by the Israel Academy of Science (grant 1041-541), the Israel National Institute for Health Policy (grant R/17/2001), and a donation from Ellern Foundation. We are grateful for the assistance provided by Yoni Pinkas, Yaron Sela, Sharon Avidor, and Aviad Orbach.
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - This study addresses the relationship between subjective evaluation of memory and objective cognitive dysfunction in old-old age. In a sample of 164 participants (mean age 91.9, range 87-106) drawn from a nationwide Israeli survey, 42% evaluated their memory positively and 30% negatively. Participants were no more concerned about being forgetful than younger adults. Subjective memory and concern about forgetfulness were not significantly correlated with cognitive dysfunction. Sociodemographic, physical, and well-being characteristics explained three times more variance of cognitive dysfunction than of subjective memory. The study suggests that subjective memory among old-old people who can undergo a survey interview may not reflect actual cognitive dysfunction. Apparently, the role of subjective evaluation resides in other areas of adaptation to very old age.
AB - This study addresses the relationship between subjective evaluation of memory and objective cognitive dysfunction in old-old age. In a sample of 164 participants (mean age 91.9, range 87-106) drawn from a nationwide Israeli survey, 42% evaluated their memory positively and 30% negatively. Participants were no more concerned about being forgetful than younger adults. Subjective memory and concern about forgetfulness were not significantly correlated with cognitive dysfunction. Sociodemographic, physical, and well-being characteristics explained three times more variance of cognitive dysfunction than of subjective memory. The study suggests that subjective memory among old-old people who can undergo a survey interview may not reflect actual cognitive dysfunction. Apparently, the role of subjective evaluation resides in other areas of adaptation to very old age.
KW - aging
KW - cognitive dysfunction
KW - cognitive functioning
KW - memory complaints
KW - old-old
KW - subjective memory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879150015&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/07317115.2013.788115
DO - 10.1080/07317115.2013.788115
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AN - SCOPUS:84879150015
SN - 0731-7115
VL - 36
SP - 294
EP - 315
JO - Clinical Gerontologist
JF - Clinical Gerontologist
IS - 4
ER -