The mnemic neglect effect and information about dementia: age differences in recall

Abstract

Dementia represents a more immediate threat for older than for younger adults. Consequently, different strategies may be used to defend the self against the threat of dementia. We hypothesised that older (compared to younger) adults are more likely to manifest mnemic neglect (in which information that is threatening to the self is selectively forgotten) to reduce distress for dementia-related information.Fifty-nine participants aged under 50 and 44 participants aged over 50 recalled 24 dementia-related statements that were either high or low in negativity. Participants were randomised to recall statements that referred either to themselves or another person. High-negativity, self-referent statements had the most substantial threat potential. The recall of older (but not younger) participants for high-negativity (vs. low-negativity) dementia-related statements was impaired when these statements referred to the self rather than to another person. These results indicate that older adults evince mnemic neglect in response to self-threatening information about dementia.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; amnesia; anterograde; dementia; memory; mnemic neglect; self-concept; short-term.