EFFECTS OF EDUCATION ON ASSESSMENT OF AGE-ASSOCIATED MEMORY IMPAIRMENT

This study investigated the relation of education to results of the te sts used in determining age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) and wh ether 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 Wechs ler Memory Scale (WMS) and the Benton Visual Retention Test, Administr ation A. Seventy-four of the 90 women were classified as having AAMI, according to the criteria outlined by the NIMH Work Group. After the e ffects of education were statistically removed, 54 women were classifi ed as having AAMI. The difference between AAMI categorization before a nd after controlling for education was statistically significant.