Earles J L, Connor L T, Smith A D, Park D C
Psychology Department, Furman University, South Carolina 29613-0470, USA.
Psychol Aging. 1997 Dec;12(4):675-83. doi: 10.1037//0882-7974.12.4.675.
Contributions of self-reported health to adult age differences in perceptual speed and memory were assessed for 301 adults ages 20-90. Participants were asked 4 health status questions, given 3 perceptual speed tests, 2 working memory tests, and 2 memory tests. Self-reported health was found to predict speed better than it predicted memory. Covariance structural equation modeling was used to assess the relations among age, self-reported health, perceptual speed, working memory, and memory. The results support the hypothesis that any effects of self-reported health on age differences in memory are mediated by perceptual speed.
