The Journal of Korean Society of Community-Based Occupational Therapy Vol.9 No.2 pp.13-22
Declines in the Components of Episodic Memory by Normal Aging Focusing on Object, Spatial Location, Temporal Order Memory
Key Words : Cognitive decline,Episodic memory,Normal aging
Abstract
Objective : The purpose of this technical research is to determine decline of episodic memory by normal aging focucing on object, spatial location, and temporal order memory. Methods : We allocated seventy-seven of healthy adults from twenty to eighty years old, and performed computer-based cognitive tasks which were consisted of the object, spatial location, and temporal order memory. We used OpenSesame(OpenSesame Inc, OR), put ten pictures people normally see in their daily life, and evaluated those aspects through asking the objects types, object spatial locations, and picture temporal orders from 10 sheets of the picture. Results : Object and spatial location memory were not affected by normal aging whereas, temporal order memory significantly decreased with normal aging. Specifically, temporal order memory for in their age of forty was significantly decreased compared with their age of twenty and object memory at their age of eighty was relatively high compared to spatial location and temporal order memory. We found out that temporal order memory worse fastest and object memory lasted longest. Conclusion : In this study, we confirmed characteristics of declines of episodic memory consisting of object, spatial location, and temporal order memory. Notably, we could specifically identify declines of spatial location and temporal order memory with normal aging previous studies investigated on a limited basis using conventional neuropsychological assessments. These findings would be helpful to screen impairment in episodic memory by normal aging and provide an evidence that cognitive intervention for healthy older adults needs to include spatial and temporal aspect of memory.