Prospective and retrospective memory in normal ageing and dementia: A questionnaire study

Frequency of prospective memory and retrospective memory failures was rated on a 16-item questionnaire by 862 volunteers, from five groups: patients w ith Alzheimer Disease (rated by carers), carers of Alzheimer Disease patien ts, elderly, young, and a group of married couples. Reported memory failure s were highest for Alzheimer Disease patients, and lowest for carers, with elderly and young controls in between. More prospective memory than retrosp ective memory failures were reported in all groups, although the difference was small for Alzheimer Disease patients who were rated near ceiling for b oth. Prospective memory failures of Alzheimer Disease patients were reporte d as more frustrating for carers than retrospective memory failures; prospe ctive memory and retrospective memory failures frustrated Alzheimer Disease patients equally. Data from the couples indicated that there were no biase s resulting from rating on behalf of someone else. These results suggest th at: (1) normal ageing has no greater effect on self-reported retrospective memory than prospective memory failures, (2) the relatively small number of memory failures reported by carers may result from comparing themselves wi th the Alzheimer Disease patients in their care, and (3) prospective memory failures have a greater impact on the lives of the carers and are therefor e more likely to be reported as early indicants of the disease.