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Written By: Agencies | Published : June 6, 2015 5:16 PM IST
Scientists have debunked the belief that one loses memory as he/she ages. Researchers believe that although there is memory loss, it s partial as only the ability to recall specific facts declines with age.
'In old age, deterioration appears in episodic memory but not in semantic memory,' said study author Alaitz Aizpurua from University of the Basque Country in Spain. 'Episodic memory preserves the facts of the past in our personal life, and it is more specific in terms of time and space: we can remember the last time we went to a restaurant, who we sat next to, what we ate...' Aizpurua said. (Read:Drink red wine to prevent memory loss in old age)
Semantic memory is related to language, to the meaning of concepts and to repetitive facts. 'This type of memory -- semantic -- and procedural memory are maintained (in some cases they even improve) whereas episodic memory in which detailed memories are retained is reduced,' Aizpurua added. Procedural memory is the one to do with skills, the one we need to do things -- to drive, for example. (Read: Drink heavily in your middle age and risk memory loss in old age)
In the experiment conducted for the research, the participants were asked to recall three facts from their personal lives. The researchers found that an individual -- whether an adult or young person -- has the capacity to remember information relating to facts in his/her private life in detail.
'The main difference between older adults and younger adults is as follows: the younger ones remember more episodic details,' Aizpurua said. (Read: Beware! anaesthetics can result in long-term memory loss)
The study appeared in the journal Consciousness and Cognition
Image source: Getty Images
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