Effects of Education on Assessment of Age-Associated Memory Impairment

This study investigated the relation of education to results of the tests used in determining age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) and whether adjustment for years of education affects classification of AAMI. Ninety women, age 75 or older, who were living independently in the community, participated in the study. Assessment of AAMI was conducted, using the Logical Memory and Associate-Learning tasks from the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) and the Benton Visual Retention Test, Administration A. Seventy-four of the 90 women were classified as having AAMI, according to the criteria outlined by the NIMH Work Group. After the effects of education were statistically removed, 54 women were classified as having AAMI. The difference between AAMI categorization before and after controlling for education was statistically significant.