Lack Of Imagination In Older Adults Linked To Declining Memory

Science Daily ^ | 1-8-2008 | Association for Psychological Science.

[blam]

Lack Of Imagination In Older Adults Linked To Declining Memory

ScienceDaily (Jan. 8, 2008) — Most children are able to imagine their future selves as astronauts, politicians or even superheroes; however, many older adults find it difficult to recollect past events, let alone generate new ones. A new Harvard University study reveals that the ability of older adults to form imaginary scenarios is linked to their ability to recall detailed memories.

According to the study, episodic memory, which represents our personal memories of past experiences, "allows individuals to project themselves both backward and forward in subjective time."

Therefore, in order to create imagined future events, the individual must be able to remember the details of previously experienced ones extract various details and put them together to create an imaginary event, a process known as the constructive-episodic-simulation.

Harvard psychologists Donna Rose Addis, Alana Wong and Daniel Schacter supported the hypothesis using an adapted version of the Autobiographical Interview in which young and older participants responded to randomly selected cue words with past and future scenarios.

When compared with young adults, the researchers found that the older adults displayed a significant reduction in the use of internal episodic details to describe both past memories and imagined future events.

The results of the study "Age-Related Changes in Simulation of Future Events" appear in the January 2008 issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Adapted from materials provided by Association for Psychological Science.

[blam]

Take vitamin D? Seems to help everything else.

[blam]

Why Computers Frustrate Older Adults

[Wonder Warthog]

Sounds like a lot of horse-pucky to me. More likely, older citizens have enough real-world experience to know what is likely to be possible, and what isn’t. For instance, by the time you’re sixty, you know that you’re VERY unlikely to be “president of the United States”, so you don’t waste time “projecting” that particular scenario.

[Mr. Lucky]

What?

[rhombus]

Expect a lot of this garbage science if the GOP runs anybody over the age of 50 for President. It’s not like we haven’t seen it before. ;-)

[umgud]

On the upside, your body is too old to do it anymore, but your memory is so bad that you thought you actually did it, which feels just as good anyway.

[blam]

"For instance, by the time you’re sixty, you know that you’re VERY unlikely to be “president of the United States”, so you don’t waste time “projecting” that particular scenario."

Insightful.

I'm 64 and don't waste time 'projecting' anything. I care very little what people think...especially of me.
(I'm also smart enough to recognize that I'm not as aloof as I made that sound.)

[BipolarBob]

I can’t imagine that.

[ArmstedFragg]

Humbug! Declining imagination in seniors is related to experience. After you’ve already experienced everything, what’s left to imagine? In our senior years, we call the thing they’re referring to as ‘imagining’ flashbacks.

[vetvetdoug]

Vitamin D and Viagra. The increased circulation is good for everything from memory to pressed clothes.

[kinsman redeemer]

Uhhh...

Nevermind. I forgot what I was going to post.

(I can't imagine what it was.)

[kinsman redeemer]

An elderly man and his wife invite another elderly couple out to dinner.
"I'll drive" says the first man and he and the other man sit in the front seat. This is a great restaurant! We just found it and we ate there last night. We want to go there again."
"What's the name of the place?" inquires the second man.
"Uhhh.. Let's see... uhhh... what's the name of that flower with the long stem that you give on Valentine's Day?" asks the first man to the second.
"A rose?"
"Yes, that's it!" says the driver as he turns to his wife in the back seat. "Rose, what's the name of the restaurant we're going to?"

[Wonder Warthog]

"I'm 64 and don't waste time 'projecting' anything."

I'm 60, and I mostly project reaching 63 and retiring so I can spend my days learning all the stuff I didn't have time to get into because of work (could "probably" retire today, but having the Social Security cushion (for however long THAT lasts) will make it easier).

I assume your interest in paleo-history, ethnology and related subjects is a post-retirement avocation?? I certainly have enjoyed the articles you post in those areas (and, of course, look forward to many more).

[stylin19a]

I imagine dying in bed at the age of 100....
shot by a jealous husband

[stylin19a]

I imagine dying peacefully in my sleep like my uncle gene...
not screaming in terror like his passengers in the backseat

[stylin19a]

I imagine becoming a democrat just before I die.
Better one of those dirty RATS go than a good conservative.

[stylin19a]

No...I don’t have a death wish.
I know I’m going to die
I just imagine I’m going to die last.

[Mr. Jeeves]

For instance, by the time you’re sixty, you know that you’re VERY unlikely to be “president of the United States”, so you don’t waste time “projecting” that particular scenario.

Oh, I don't know... ;)

[Fiddlstix]

I knew it! I knew it! That's been my problem all along. I ain't got no imagination!

Just look at some of the posts I've made. You'll see

[potlatch]

Thanks blam, interesting article.

LOl, another confabulation by some psychologist! In order to have good imagination you have to have ‘experience’ to remember?

Very young people have little experience to go on and it’s a proven fact that older people remember things in the past better than details in their present everyday lives!

Young people have their whole lives ahead of them to “imagine”, while the elderly don’t waste time projecting too far into the future.

Did Al Gore contribute to this study? LOL