Memory Change in the Aged

Do memory abilities decline with aging? Are changes in memory universal or differential? Do they occur similarly or differently for all types of memory and to all aging persons? These are some of the principal questions explored in the Victoria Longitudinal Study and presented in this volume. Although there is a tremendous amount of research comparing the memory performance of younger and older adults, very few studies have followed the same older adults over time. Only through the use of such longitudinal methods can one directly observe changes in memory functioning with aging. This monograph reports recent longitudinal data following the same individuals over a six-year period. The authors consider a variety of theoretical and methodological issues related to memory and aging. In addition, they report analyses of data to examine questions such as: Are average changes in performance associated with age, cohort, or both? Are there substantial individual differences in memory change in later life or are people changing in similar fashion? What component processes predict changes in complex memory performance in adulthood?