Memory Dysfunction: A Prognostic Indicator in Geriatric Patients*

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Abstract
The results of a five-year survey of 696 aged patients of a mental hospital are presented. It was found that patients suffering from organic brain disease with an amnestic syndrome (malignant senescent forgetfulness) as the leading psychopathological sign, have a significantly higher death rate and a significantly shorter survival time than patients of the same age with preserved memory function or the ‘benign’ type of forgetfulness, but suffering from functional psychoses, even if the latter had been hospitalized for much longer periods of time than the former. It was, furthermore, found that the presence of an amnestic syndrome is a highly significant prognostic indicator of the general health of the individual. Some theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.