Age-associated memory impairment diagnoses: problems of reliability and concerns for terminology

Objective memory criteria for diagnosing age-associated memory impairment (AAMI), age-consistent memory impairment, and late-life forgetfulness (LLF) were applied to 523 cognitively normal older persons divided into 2 groups on the basis of the clinical memory assessment battery they received. Seventy-seven percent of Group 2 and 98% of Group 1 met the Crook et al. (1986) cognitive criteria for AAMI on at least 1 test. Rates based on individual tests varied from 7% to 96%. Objective-cognitive criteria for LLF were met by no members of Group 1 but by 31% of Group 2. Results suggest that, as proposed, the criteria for age-related diagnoses lack reliability. Concerns regarding the diagnosis of normal memory in older populations are considered.