We are proud to share that this research comes from Tilburg University, led by Zeynep N. Saruhanlioglu, an alumna of the IDA program, together with IDA faculty and supervisors Yvonne Brehmer, Keri Pekaar, Dorien Kooij, and Patrick Klaiber, as well as external collaborators Jacqueline Mogle and David M. Almeida.
The paper, Daily Associations Between Stress Occurrence and Memory Lapses Across Middle and Late Adulthood: The Potential Stress-Buffering Role of Positive Affect, recently published in Psychology and Aging (2025), shines a light on how daily stress shapes memory functioning in middle and late adulthood.
This research shows that on days we experience stress, we are more likely to have memory lapses, like forgetting where we put our keys or someone’s name. Interestingly, this effect was more pronounced for memories of past events (retrospective memory) than for future tasks (prospective memory). The study also found that while a positive mood on a stressful day doesn’t necessarily prevent these memory lapses, people who are generally more positive tend to have fewer memory problems overall.
The study has received well-deserved media attention from news outlets like De Morgen, GGZ Nieuws, GezondNu, Metro, Rino, and Scientias because its findings are highly relatable to a broad audience. Practically, this research means that the small, everyday stressors that are often dismissed as just a normal part of life, can have a real and cumulative impact on our cognitive health. As lead researcher Zeynep Saruhanlioglu explains, “While the difference between stressor and non-stressor days may seem small, these daily disruptions can add up over time and become noticeable.” These insights underscore the importance of managing daily stress and cultivating long-term positivity to protect our memory as we age.
Abstract
Advanced age has been associated with benefits in stress reactivity. However, previous research has not investigated this advantage for daily memory functioning, which is crucial for the quality of life in adulthood. Considering the possible detrimental effects of stressors on daily memory functioning, this study investigated the relationship between stressor occurrence and memory lapses in middle and late adulthood and whether positive affect acts as a stress buffer. The sample consisted of 1,071 community-dwelling adults aged 43–90 years (M = 62.71, SD = 10.13) from the National Study of Daily Experiences. Participants completed eight consecutive daily telephone interviews assessing stressor occurrence, memory lapses (retrospective and prospective), and positive affect. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to analyze the multilevel data (days nested within people). The findings showed that participants were more likely to report memory lapses on days with a stressor compared to days without a stressor. Positive affect did not buffer this relationship, regardless of the arousal level, although higher overall positive affect was associated with fewer memory lapses. Age did not moderate this relationship. Exploratory analyses suggested that the present effects were mostly driven by retrospective rather than prospective memory lapses. These findings highlight the impact of daily stressors on cognitive functioning and underscore the need to explore modifiable factors to protect against stress-related daily memory lapses throughout adulthood.
Click here to find the research article: https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fpag0000928
Resources
Here is the press release from Tilburg University about the research: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/current/press-releases/daily-stress-increases-risk-memory-lapses-adults
Here is the study insights and the written interview:
Scientias
Here you can find more news articles about the study:
De Morgen
“Dag vol stress? Dan heb je meer kans om je sleutels kwijt te raken”
https://www.demorgen.be/tech-
GGZ Nieuws
https://www.ggznieuws.nl/
GezondNu
https://gezondnu.nl/
Metro
Rino
https://www.rino.nl/nieuws/
The featured image used was generated using OpenAI’s DALL·E (2025), inspired by a reference image originally shared on Pinterest: https://pin.it/5vd5eDyGG
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