USING A MEMORY HANDBOOK TO IMPROVE EVERYDAY MEMORY IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS WITH MEMORY COMPLAINTS

Community-dwelling, nondemented older people (60-70 years) with report ed memory complaints were randomly assigned to either a memory-handboo k (MHB) group (n = 20) or a placebo group (n = 20). The MHB group memb ers were given a self-contained memory handbook and were individually trained on two of the handbook's sections that related to (a) remember ing a person's name and (b) prospective memory, for approximately 30 m inutes each. The placebo group was given an instructional pamphlet wit h a description of three list-learning mnemonics as a placebo treatmen t. Subjects were tested before and after the intervention. When compar ed with the placebo group, the MHB group members significantly improve d their performance on a face-naming task and a strategies knowledge q uestionnaire, but not on the prospective memory measures, when compare d with the placebo group. In addition, the MHB group showed a signific ant advantage on an everyday memory diary that was filled out by all s ubjects following the intervention. Following the study, the placebo g roup was also given the memory handbook, and both groups were then ass essed on their knowledge and use of strategies by questionnaire at a 4 -month follow-up. At this time the MHB group appeared to maintain most of its original gains, while the placebo group made some improvement.