Memory decline and the healthy aging brain

1. Lesson 3
Memory
Decline and the
Healthy Ageing
Brain

2. From last Lesson........
Research suggests that the hippocampus is critical to the
formation and consolidation of memories, playing part in
deciding if information received a by the senses is worth
remembering, then organising memories before directing
them to other sections of the brain.
What role does the hippocampus play in memory?

3. Neurodegenerative disease –
decline in structure and function
of neurons E.g. Alzheimer's
disease
Amnesia – Loss of memory, partial or complete, temporary
or permanent. Can be caused by either of:
Brain trauma – damage
inflicted through injury
interferes with functioning
E.g. Brain injury, stroke,
drug abuse etc
Amnesia

4. Anterograge Amnesia
Can’t make new Long Term memories of
events that occur after the injury –
hippocampus damage common
Cannot transfer information from STM to
LTM
Retrograde Amnesia
Cant remember old information
Events before the injury lost
Usually temporary and caused by a
blow to the head
Memory of events immediately
preceding the injury are permanently
lost (interruption or consolidation)

5. Anterograge Amnesia

6. Retrograde Amnesia

7. Older people Do take longer to learn new information
STM – Depends on the task, easy one part tasks are ok.
Tasks that require divided attention are challenging for
older people.
LTM - Episodic down, Procedural same, Semantic Same
Memory decline over the lifespan

8. Not necessarily inevitable
normal. Amount of decline depends on:
•How retention is measured -
same
•Motivation to remember
•Self confidence
•Nervous system condition
Memory decline over the lifespan