COGNITIVE FUNCTION AND MEDICATION USAGE IN OLDER ADULTS

Research is presented from three different cognitive aging laboratorie s that examines the relationship between cognitive function, age, and the ability to adhere to medication regimens. The first section focuse s on the effectiveness of complete, explicit instructions that emphasi ze the importance of organization of medication information on adheren ce behaviors for both younger and older adults. The second section exa mines the role of literal versus inferential medication information in normal elderly and in Alzheimer's patients. This research demonstrate s that traditional measures of cognitive functioning are correlated wi th the comprehension of medication information and medication adherenc e. Finally, the third section presents an overview of research issues in adherence, including the relative effectiveness of two adherence me asurements techniques, as well as a discussion of the effects of illne ss beliefs on adherence and evidence that adherence is not a global be havior but may vary within the individual as a function of certain med ications. Directions for future research are suggested.