Language, Memory, and Aging

There has been an upsurge of interest in the aging process as it affects cognition. Most research attention has been focused on memory and relatively little has been focused on language in the elderly. This volume addresses both the research on language in old age relevant to memory, and memory research relevant to language in old age. The authors draw on a range of methodologies and compare young and older adults (both normal and demented). Representing the major perspectives in contemporary cognition theory, they raise such current issues as the role of awareness in memory and language, the relation between semantic and episodic memory, the distinction between automatic and attentional processes, and the usefulness of distinguishing among levels of processing. The book will be welcomed not only as an invaluable overview for cognitive and developmental psychologists, neuropsychologists and psycholinguists but also as a supplementary text for graduate students in cognitive science and gerontology.

'This volume addresses the relation between language and memory in old age. The authors draw on a range of methodologies and compare young and older adults (both normal and demented). Representing the major perspectives in contemporary cognitive theory, they consider such current issues as the role of awareness in memory and language, the relation between semantic and episodic memory, the distinction between automatic and attentional processes, and the usefulness of distinguishing among levels of processing. Language, Memory, and Aging will be welcomed not only as a valuable overview of an active research area but also as an impetus to further theoretical and empirical development.' New England Journal of Human Services, 'A sound review containing extensive references.' SciTech Book News, 'This is a must read for anyone interested in aging and cognitive defects.' Choice, 'In an unusually successful effort, Light and Burke provide a cohesive treatment of the themes and issues of research on language, memory, and aging, not just the chapters in their book … A unique feature of this book is that it contains two chapters, one by Emery and the other by Huff, that explore the parallel between normal age-related changes and those due to disease, such as Alzheimer's. It is important to integrate this area of research further in normal cognitive aging and cognitive psychology.' Contemporary Psychology