Little evidence for links between memory complaints and memory performance in very old age: Longitudinal analyses from the Berlin Aging Study.

Abstract

Cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between memory complaint and memory performance were examined in a sample of old-old participants from the Berlin Aging Study (BASE; N = 504, ages 70 to 100, age M = 84.7 at study onset). Participants were measured 4 times over the course of 6 years. Similar to many previous studies, initial cross-sectional memory complaints were predicted by depression and neuroticism, but not memory performance. Subjective age also predicted memory complaint independent of other variables. Latent growth curve models based on age and time in the study revealed that memory complaints did not change in level with age or time, and manifested no reliable random effects (individual differences in change). These models also detected no significant relationship between changes in memory and either initial memory complaint or changes in memory complaint over age or over time. None of the covariates that predicted initial memory complaints were related to changes in memory complaints over time. An autoregressive latent variable model for memory complaints, consistent with a conceptualization of complaints as judgments constructed from beliefs and other influences in the moment, did detect a concurrent effect of memory on memory complaints at the third occasion, controlling on initial complaints. These results suggest that for the oldest-old, changes in memory complaints may not primarily reflect monitoring of actual age-related memory changes, but rather are affected by other variables, including age-based memory stereotypes, neuroticism, depression, and concerns about aging.

Correlates and Moderators of Change in Subjective Memory and Memory Performance: Findings from the Health and Retirement Study

“…Perhaps longitudinal data minimize the effect of variables that influence self-concept but are unrelated to memory status, thereby enhancing the validity of reported changes in memory as an indicator of actual memory change. However, some longitudinal studies examining correlated changes have found nil to small associations [7,14,18] , consistent with cross-sectional metaanalyses. The reasons for discrepant longitudinal findings are not yet clear and might be based on methodological differences (e.g., nature of the population, age of the sample, measure of memory complaints vs. memory ratings).…”

“…However, one novel outcome in this study was the larger relation of actual memory change to change in subjective memory for persons high in depressive symptoms. This outcome could indicate that individuals experiencing dysphoria are more realistic and more concerned about their changing memory [7] . Conversely, this outcome could be framed as maintenance of a positive evaluation of one's own mem-ory functioning in face of cognitive declines -a self-protective strategy that is less likely to occur for those experiencing higher levels of depressive symptoms.…”

“…In line with previous research [16,17] , a bivariate latent growth curve model (controlling for multiple correlates) found (a) a small correlation between levels of subjective memory and levels of memory performance, and (b) a robust correlation between changes in subjective memory and memory performance that was larger than the correlation of the intercepts for these two variables. It is important to note that some longitudinal studies have found no or small slope-slope correlations [7,14,18] . At present, the reason for this discrepancy is not clear.…”

“…Neuroticism has also been linked with subjective memory concerns [10,11] . Pearman et al [7] have recently found independent associations of neuroticism and diagnosed clinical depression with memory complaints in a sample of old and very old adults. Other, less frequently mentioned aspects of personality (e.g., conscientiousness) and self-esteem also correlate with adults' subjective memory beliefs [10,12] .…”

“…Internalization of age stereotypes about memory as applying to oneself [19,20] may affect subjective memory. Younger subjective age is known to be associated with higher memory self-efficacy [21] and fewer memory complaints [7] in older adults.…”