LEARNING, FORGETTING, AND RETRIEVAL OF EVERYDAY MATERIAL ACROSS THE ADULT LIFE-SPAN

Levels and rates of acquisition and amounts of forgetting of name-face associations and grocery list items were assessed in a sample of 1,92 1 normal participants that was divided into five age groups (i.e., 17 39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+). Retrieval was assessed via the cons istent long-term retrieval score (CLTR) from the Grocery List Selectiv e Reminding Test (GLSRT). Substantial linear age-associated declines i n level of acquisition were noted for both name-face associations and grocery list items. There was a significant age-related drop in rate o f acquisition of name-face associations. Remarkably, very little forge tting occurred over a 40-min delay at any age on either measure. There was a significant linear age-related decline in retrieval efficiency for grocery list items, when variance due to both level of acquisition and retention was removed. The nature of age-associated memory declin e and its possible neuroanatomic correlates is discussed.