Abstract
This chapter describes the different concepts of memory function with old age and dementia. There are several memory systems that have been identified to interact with each other constantly, whereas others appear to operate independently. It provides a general overview of the human memory system and at the same time, describes how the various aspects of memory change during the course of human aging. The chapter compares these changes, which are associated with normal aging, with the much more devastating changes that occur in patients with dementing illness. Aging is associated with different changes in performance on tasks that involve primary and secondary memory. Along with these, studies of cognitive changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) use a variety of different assessment instruments where the tools are described in details.