High prevalence of prospective memory impairment in the elderly and in early-stage dementia: Findings from a population-based study

Remembering to carry out intended actions is important for the effective performance of daily activities, but generally declines with age. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of prospective memory impairment in the elderly population, describe the age function and identify risk factors for impairment. An event-based prospective memory test was administered to 11,956 participants aged 65 + in the screening stage of a population-based study, the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS). Only 54% of the sample succeeded on the task. Logistic regression analysis showed that successful performance was strongly and linearly related to age, and that male gender, less education and lower social status substantially increased the risk of prospective memory impairment. There was a very high prevalence of prospective memory impairment in 388 individuals with very mild dementia, of whom only 8% succeeded on the task. These findings raise concerns about the well-being and safety of many older people. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.