Memory Age Identity as a predictor of cognitive function in the elderly: A 2-year follow-up study

• Published in: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics 2018-01, Vol.74, p.68-71
• Main Authors: Chang, Ki Jung, Hong, Chang Hyung, Lee, Yun Hwan, Chung, Young Ki, Lim, Ki Young, Noh, Jai Sung, Kim, Jin-Ju, Kim, Haena, Kim, Hyun-Chung, Son, Sang Joon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cognition; Elderly; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Memory; Memory age identity; Mental Status and Dementia Tests
• ISSN: 0167-4943; 1872-6976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2017.10.007

•Relatively few studies have focused on psychosocial factors of cognitive dysfunction.•MAI means subjective perception concerning how young a person feel based on memory.•Influence of one’s memory belief (MAI) was able to affect their actual cognitive performance. There is a growing interest in finding psychosocial predictors related to cognitive function. In our previous research, we conducted a cross-sectional study on memory age identity (MAI) and found that MAI might be associated with objective cognitive performance in non-cognitively impaired elderly. A longitudinal study was conducted to better understand the importance of MAI as a psychosocial predictor related to objective cognitive function. Data obtained from 1345 Korean subjects aged 60 years and above were analyzed. During the two-year follow-up, subjective memory age was assessed on three occasions using the following question: How old do you feel based on your memory? Discrepancy between subjective memory age and chronological age was then calculated. We defined this value as ‘memory age identity (MAI)’. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was then obtained to demonstrate the relationship between MAI and Korean version-Mini Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) score over the 2 years of study. MAI was found to significantly (β=−0.03, p< 0.0001) predict objective cognitive performance in the non-cognitively impaired elderly. MAI may be a potential psychosocial predictor related to objective cognitive performance in the non-cognitively impaired elderly.