The Interpersonal Context of Memory Complaints

Usability of a memory aid handbook for older people with subjective cognitive impairment-An explorative pilot study

BACKGROUND

Memory problems are common in advanced age. Memory strategies can be used to manage such challenges. To assist older people facing memory problems, we conducted a pilot study to evaluate the usability of a memory aid handbook that we developed specifically for this purpose.

METHOD

A memory aid handbook with a 7-week program was developed based on a systematic review. A total of 19 older people with self-reported memory problems (mean age: 76.11 years, female: 73.68%) tested the memory aid handbook and completed the System Usability Scale (SUS), a checklist on the relevance of the strategies in the handbook, and questionnaires on daily life functioning and self-efficacy. Further, they participated in cognitive tests. In a pre-post design, within-subject differences were determined using paired t-tests.

RESULTS

The usability of the memory aid handbook scores as were high (mean SUS score: 99.21). The checklist indicated that the handbook was perceived as beneficial for confirming already established memory strategies and stimulating new ones, such as self-acceptance, visualizing and verbalizing daily routines, and asking for help. In addition, the checklist revealed that using a calendar was considered the most helpful strategies for daily living, followed closely by taking notes, having specific places for certain items and creating routines in daily life. After the 7 weeks, participants scored significantly better in the cognitive and self-efficacy tests. The exploratory nature of the study combined with the small sample size should be considered when interpreting the results.

CONCLUSION

The usability of the handbook was high, reflecting the relevance of the strategies it contains. Teaching memory strategies can be a useful, inexpensive method to foster independence among those at risk for cognitive impairment.

The Power of Perception: Beliefs About Memory Ability Uniquely Contribute to Memory Performance and Quality of Life in Adults Aging with Traumatic Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE

Personal beliefs about memory ability, which comprise memory self-efficacy (MSE), can influence memory performance in healthy older adults. Self-efficacy theory also predicts that MSE biases self-perceptions of functioning more globally, potentially impacting daily activity beyond cognitive performance. People with traumatic brain injury (PwTBI) frequently report debilitating memory problems long after acute recovery, but little is known about how MSE affects health outcomes in this population. We examined demographic and clinical correlates of MSE, as well as its relationship to memory test performance and health-related quality of life (QOL), in older adults with chronic moderate-to-severe TBI (msTBI).

METHOD

One hundred fourteen adults, aged 50+ and at least 1 year post-msTBI, underwent neuropsychological testing to assess their memory functioning. Participants also self-reported levels of psychological distress, MSE (Cognitive Confidence subscale of the Metacognitions Questionnaire), and health-related QOL (Quality of Life after Brain Injury questionnaire).

RESULTS

Demographic and injury-related predictors showed weak correlations with MSE. Although the relationship between MSE and general psychological distress was robust, only the former significantly predicted memory performance. Bivariate analyses revealed significant relationships between MSE and five out of the six QOL domains assessed. Multivariate linear regression revealed a significant impact of MSE on overall QOL independent of demographic and clinical variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support a unique role for MSE in both the objective cognitive performance and subjective health of PwTBI. Increased focus on self-perceptions of ability and their impact on measured outcomes is an important step towards personalized rehabilitation for adults with chronic msTBI.

Discrepancies in Objective and Subjective Cognition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Does Personality Matter?

Associations between subjective cognition and current objective functioning are inconclusive. Given known associations between personality and cognition, this study tested whether personality moderates associations between subjective memory and objective cognition in middle-aged and older adults. Participants (N = 62, M _age = 63.8, SD = 7.7, 33 men) completed assessments of personality (Big Five Inventory-10), subjective memory (Cognitive Failures Questionnaire [CFQ-memory]), and objective cognition (processing speed, attention, inhibition [Stroop], working memory [Sternberg], set-shifting [Wisconsin Card Sorting Task]). Multiple regressions and simple slopes analyses examined whether personality moderates associations between subjective memory and objective cognition, controlling for age, number of medical conditions, and household income. Extraversion moderated associations between processing speed and CFQ-memory. Agreeableness moderated associations between set-shifting and CFQ-memory. Among individuals with higher extraversion and lower agreeableness, objectively worse cognition was associated with the fewest memory complaints. Findings suggest personality may impact the discrepancies between subjective memory and objective cognition in mid-to-late life.

Daily Memory Lapses and Affect: Mediation Effects on Life Satisfaction

Memory lapses are a type of daily challenge that are common to most people and are associated with negative mood outcomes. How daily challenges are associated and linked to broad domains, like life satisfaction and well-being, has been underexamined. Life satisfaction is often assessed from a macro-level that emphasizes average differences over longer timeframes, yet daily experiences (i.e., micro-level) may accumulate to shape these characteristics. In the current study, we examined if daily memory lapses (e.g., difficulties with word-finding or forgetting a meeting) were associated with life satisfaction, and whether this relationship was mediated by the associated changes in positive and negative affect due to daily memory lapses. In a coordinated analysis of two datasets (N = 561, ages 25-93 years), we used multilevel structural equation modeling to assess how daily memory lapses may influence the broader outcome of global life satisfaction. The pattern of results was similar across datasets: memory lapses were associated with reduced positive affect and increased negative affect. Further, the daily affect associated with daily memory lapses significantly mediated the relationship between lapses and life satisfaction, while the direct relationship between memory lapses and life satisfaction was non-significant. This study provides support for the role of daily challenges, specifically memory lapses, influencing broader constructs such as psychological well-being by identifying the key factor of affective responses. Future work should identify other salient daily challenges, as well as explore if reducing the affective response to challenges through targeted interventions would mitigate impacts on distal functioning.

Systematic Review of Correlates of Internal and External Memory Strategy Use in Older Adults

Memory strategies promote independence during aging. We systematically reviewed literature on correlates and predictors of internal and external memory strategy use for older adults. Of 212 articles identified, 29 met inclusion criteria. Overall, increasing age was associated with decreasing internal but increasing external memory strategy use. Females reported more external memory strategy use, though findings were mixed regarding internal memory strategies. Clinical status appeared to alter the relationship between cognition and internal and external memory strategy use. There were mixed results regarding the relationship between memory strategy use and education, psychological functioning, and health variables. In addition to identifying areas for future research, we provide recommendations to develop primary prevention strategies for intervention and promote successful aging.