Modality memory across the adult life span: evidence for selective age-related olfactory deficits

Item memory and memory for modality format were assessed in young, young-old, and old women. Participants were presented with mixed-modality lists and items were related to four modality formats: auditory, olfactory, visual, and tactile. Memory was tested immediately after and 48 hours after inspection. Results indicated that both the young-old and old adults were disproportionately impaired in source memory relative to item memory, although they were not selectively impaired for any type of information in item memory. However, when recollection of source was required, the older age groups generated disproportionately more confusions to auditory items for olfactory information at delayed testing, and the reverse was true for the auditory information, which was most often confused with odors. Taken together, these results suggest that elaborating and reconstructing the source of olfactory information may be particularly difficult for older adults.