Abstract
The distribution of autobiographical memories across the life-span obtained by using the Galton-Crovitz prompt word method is discussed. It is demonstrated that a free life-history narrative produces results very similar to prompting for vivid memories. The distribution of remote memories found in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia by this method is identical to that of normal agemates, though at a much lower level. This suggests a uniform impairment of memory across the life span in dementia. A quite different distribution of historical memories (memories of public events) indicates that the cultural structuring of the life course is a potent determinant of the results found with this family of methods.
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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Fromholt, P., Larsen, S.F. (1992). Autobiographical Memory and Life-history Narratives in Aging and Dementia (Alzheimer type). In: Conway, M.A., Rubin, D.C., Spinnler, H., Wagenaar, W.A. (eds) Theoretical Perspectives on Autobiographical Memory. NATO ASI Series, vol 65. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7967-4_24
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7967-4_24
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