Predictors of perceived memory impairment: do they differ in Alzheimer's disease versus normal aging?

Predictors of perceived memory impairment were investigated in 40 elderly normal adults and 28 individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Measures of perceived memory impairment, global cognitive functioning, memory, use of memory strategies, memory strategy efficacy, and depressive symptomatology were obtained for all participants. The elderly normal and Alzheimer's disease groups did not differ in the extent to which they reported perceived memory impairment. For both participant groups, more frequent use of memory strategies and lower perceived memory strategy efficacy were significant predictors of perceived memory impairment. Depressive symptomatology was an additional, significant determinant of perceived memory impairment for the elderly normal group.