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Updated: Aug 12, 2025
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Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
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Aging, memory performance and metacognitive beliefs: a narrative review
Raphaël Gautier1, Florent Pinard2, Sandrine Vanneste2
1UMR 1253 iBrain, Inserm, Université de Tours, France.
Geriatrie Et Psychologie Neuropsychiatrie Du Vieillissement
|January 26, 2023
Summary
Older adults
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience of aging
- Gerontology
Background:
- Aging is associated with increased negative memory beliefs (metamemory).
- These beliefs can reduce memory task motivation and strategy use.
- Memory testing can worsen negative beliefs via stereotype threat.
Approach:
- Investigated the impact of prior task success on older adults' metamemory beliefs and memory performance.
- Examined how psycho-emotional and contextual factors influence memory assessment outcomes.
- Utilized experimental interventions to mitigate negative effects on memory.
Key Points:
- Negative metamemory beliefs are prevalent in aging populations.
- Stereotype threat during memory assessment can negatively bias results.
- Prior successful cognitive task engagement can enhance metamemory beliefs.
- Improved metamemory beliefs correlate with enhanced memory performance.
Conclusions:
- Metamemory beliefs and stereotype threat significantly impact older adults' memory performance.
- Psycho-emotional and contextual factors in memory testing require careful consideration.
- Interventions promoting prior success can mitigate negative effects on memory in aging.
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