Shared remembering as support against cognitive decline in aging and dementia

Shared remembering is one of the most common ways we experience memory, and its role may become especially salient in aging and dementia. While laboratory studies of collaborative recall often show costs such as collaborative inhibition, research with older couples and families, and in care contexts highlights how joint remembering can provide essential memory support. In aging, collaboration with close others can facilitate memory, and in aged care, structured reminiscence interventions boost recall. In dementia, vicarious remembering by care partners can sustain identity and social connection, even when an individual's ability to recall and narrate past events is impaired. We highlight the mechanisms by which shared remembering can benefit older people, the conditions under which collaboration helps rather than hinders, and the practical value of translating this knowledge into care practices.