Preserving Prospective Memory in Daily Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mnemonic Strategy, Cognitive Training, External Memory Aid, and Combination Interventions
Neuropsychology
Jones, W. E., Benge, J. F., et al. (2021).
Neuropsychology, 35(1), 123-140.
This systematic review investigates the effects of non-pharmacological memory interventions on prospective memory in adults (30 years old or older) from various clinical populations.
National Institutes of Health
1996 to October 2019
Empirical studies
73
<div>External electronic memory aids were found to "provide the most comprehensive, cost-effective means of prospective memory support" for adults with acquired brain injuries (p. 35). Additional findings included:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Participants completed more everyday prospective memory tasks when using their devices.</li>
<li>The authors concluded that these electronic tools were the most ecologically valid for individuals; however, losing electronic devices and privacy were identified as possible concerns.</li>
<li>External analog memory aids were also found to be beneficial; however, individuals often needed additional supports (e.g., reminder alarms) to remind them to check their analog aid.</li>
<li>The organization of information within the external analog aid (e.g., keeping a "to do" list in an easy-to-access section of a notebook) was found to be critical to improving prospective memory outcomes.</li>
</ul>
<div>Additional research is needed to determine how to best increase adherence and implementation of prospective memory supports.</div>
</div>
<div>The following findings were reported for adults with acquired brain injury:</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Cognitive training interventions </strong>resulted in better post-intervention prospective memory performance.</li>
<li><strong>Implementation intention interventions </strong>demonstrated mixed efficacy depending on the participant's age and working memory scores. </li>
<li><strong>Visual imagery interventions</strong> showed efficacy in improving prospective memory in the laboratory setting. </li>
<li><strong>Spaced retrieval interventions</strong> led to better performance on irregular or infrequent prospective memory tasks relative to massed encoding. </li>
<li><strong>Self-awareness interventions</strong> did not increase sustained self-awareness; however, they were found to provide benefits from the increased level of cues and external monitoring processes provided to participants. </li>
<li><strong>Mnemonic strategies </strong>demonstrated variable prospective memory outcomes. Mixed "cocktail" mnemonic strategies resulted in "information overload", took longer, and were not necessarily more effective than single strategy interventions.</li>
</ul>
<div>Additional research is needed to determine how to best increase adherence and implementation of prospective memory supports.</div>
