Recent memory function on the MMSE and RAVLT in the elderly

Mitsuru Wada

Wada Clinic

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) were performed for 117 healthy elderly subjects aged over 70 years old who received the elderly medical examination of community dwelling, to investigate about the recent memory function. Learning curve, delayed recall, and delayed recognition in the RAVLT declined in 0/3 (n=6) and 1/3 (n=10) groups in 3 words delayed recall of MMSE. Decline of delayed recognition in the RAVLT suggests that acquisition of the memory is also impaired. On the other hand, in 2/3 (n=22) and 3/3 (n=79) groups, performance in the RAVLT was equal and showed normal recent memory function. From the result of all samples of 117 subjects, normative data of RAVLT was reported. The number of each recall and total recalls in five trials of RAVLT decrease with increasing age, whereas delayed recall and recognition did not decrease with aging. These results suggest that acquisition and retention of the memory is relatively preserved by aging, whereas retrieval process is somewhat affected by aging.

Address correspondence to Dr. Mitsuru Wada, Wada Clinic(5-6-18 Higashikanesawa-Cho, Hitachi, Ibaraki 316-0014, Japan)