Nearly every country in the world is experiencing a growth
in older adult population. The global older adult population
will be 1Æ2 billion in 2025 and 2 billion in 2050, according to
the World Health Organization (2008). Advancing age has
been linked not only to increases in normal forgetfulness, but
also to a relative increased risk for cognitive impairment
(Lister & Barnes 2009). Gaining understanding of the
mechanisms involved in normal forgetting can clarify the
term forgetfulness and distinguish it from memory loss in
cognitive impairment, as well as that caused by other
pathologies.