Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

Which type of long term memory is affected by age?

1. Procedural memory

2. Implicit memory

3. Prospective memory

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

Long-term memory is categorized into various types, and as individuals age, different aspects of memory may be impacted differently. When considering the types of long-term memory and their susceptibility to age, it is important to recognize that all of them can show signs of decline. Procedural memory, which involves skills and actions learned through practice (such as riding a bike or playing an instrument), tends to remain relatively intact with age. However, the ability to learn new procedural skills might decline, making older adults less efficient in acquiring new motor tasks. Implicit memory, which includes unconscious memory processes that influence thoughts and behaviors (such as priming), usually stays strong with age, as it relies on previously acquired knowledge that can be recalled without conscious effort. Prospective memory, which is the ability to remember to carry out intentions in the future (like remembering to take medication at a certain time), is particularly affected by age. Older adults often experience difficulties with prospective memory tasks due to challenges with attention and multitasking. Given that prospective memory is significantly affected by aging, and while procedural and implicit memory can be less impacted, it is still accurate to state that age can influence various aspects of all types of memory to some degree. Therefore, acknowledging that they all can be affected,