The relationship between vision and memory in older adults

Faux, Brittany (2010) The relationship between vision and memory in older adults. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

In older adults, a relationship has been found between the cognitive, visual, and auditory performance. Three hypotheses proposed to explain this relationship are: the Common Cause Hypothesis, the Speed Hypothesis, and the Information Degradation Hypothesis. In the present study, adults aged 58 to 85, completed visually presented tests of free recall word lists, forward and backward digit span, vocabulary, and speed of processing. Hearing and vision were also tested. Vision was expected to be a stronger predictor for unrelated than related free recall lists, due to increased demands of the task. Contrast sensitivity, but not visual acuity, was related to free recall performance. Hearing correlated with forward and backward digit span performance. These results offer partial support for the Information Degradation and Common Cause hypotheses, but not the Speed Hypothesis and demonstrate that the impact of sensory decline may depend on the demands of the task.

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