WORKING MEMORY AND AGING: A COMPARATIVE QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF PAKISTANI ADULTS
Authors: Shahid Muhammad Sajjad , Naeem Sehrish , Alam Shoaib , Shabbir Kawish Hammad , Rahman Ramsha 
Published: February 2025

Background: Working memory is a critical cognitive function that declines with age, affecting attention, short-term storage, and executive control. While global studies have extensively explored age-related cognitive decline, research on working memory deterioration remains limited in the Pakistani population. Understanding the impact of aging on working memory within this context is essential for developing culturally relevant cognitive interventions. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the relationship between age and working memory performance across three distinct cognitive domains.
Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare working memory performance across short-term storage, attention, and executive control among three age groups as classified by Erikson’s psychosocial model: young adulthood (19–40 years), middle adulthood (41–65 years), and late adulthood (over 65 years).
Methods: A cross-sectional correlational research design was employed, with a purposive sampling technique used to recruit 150 participants (102 men, 48 women) aged 19 years and older. Inclusion criteria required participants to have at least an intermediate level of education and no diagnosed mental disorders. The study utilized a 30-item working memory questionnaire developed by Vallat-Azouv et al. (2012), measured on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 6. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with correlational analysis used to examine associations between working memory domains and one-way ANOVA applied to assess differences across age groups.
Results: A significant positive correlation was found between short-term storage, attention, and executive control (p < .01). The ANOVA results indicated significant differences in working memory performance across age groups (p < .001). Young adults scored the lowest in short-term storage (M = 31.00, SD = 6.82), attention (M = 28.36, SD = 6.31), and executive control (M = 30.63, SD = 6.67), reflecting superior cognitive efficiency. Middle-aged adults demonstrated intermediate scores in short-term storage (M = 34.64, SD = 4.51), attention (M = 30.81, SD = 5.09), and executive control (M = 33.58, SD = 4.53). Mature adults recorded the highest scores in short-term storage (M = 35.26, SD = 5.18), attention (M = 33.38, SD = 4.71), and executive control (M = 36.18, SD = 5.18), indicating the lowest cognitive efficiency. Cohen’s d effect sizes ranged from 0.80 to 0.98, supporting the robustness of these findings.
Conclusion: The study confirms that working memory declines with age, with mature adults exhibiting the most significant impairments across all three cognitive domains. These findings align with global research and emphasize the importance of targeted cognitive interventions for older individuals. Future research should employ longitudinal methodologies and explore additional variables such as cognitive reserve, lifestyle factors, and educational background to develop more comprehensive strategies for preserving cognitive function in aging populations.