EFFECTS OF MEMORY TRAINING ON ANXIETY AND PERFORMANCE IN OLDER ADULTS

A new course in memory and memory improvement was taught to two classes of older adults. The class outline and sample improvement techniques are described. All participants were surveyed about their memory complaints, techniques they had learned and used, and whether the course helped reduce anxiety about memory. The second class also took a pre- and two posttests of their memory for different stories to measure the effectiveness of the course. Results showed that the most frequent complaint was not being able to remember names and that almost all participants reported a reduction in anxiety. The two classes differed on most frequently used technique. Scores on immediate and 4-week-delayed posttests showed significantly better performance than on a pretest of memory. The course seems to reduce anxiety and provide stable, generalizable memory improvement.