According to a new study published in Cognition, schema knowledge compensates for age-related memory decline by filling in the gaps when recollection fails. As we age, our episodic memory—that is, recalling specific events and experiences—tends to decline. However, this decline does not affect all types of information equally. Research has shown that when information aligns with pre-existing knowledge or schemas, older adults often perform as well as younger adults. There are two main theories explaining how schemas influence memory in older adults: the compensatory theory, which suggests that…