Subjective memory complaints in the elderly may be related to factors other than cognitive deficit

Abstract Prevalence of subjective memory complaints (SMC) in elderly community dwellers (ECD) ranges from 25 to 50%. Some controversy exists over the association between SMC and cognitive status. Objective: We investigated whether a correlation in cognitive performance existed between two different groups according to SMC. Methods: The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Dementia Rating Scale-Mattis (DRS-Mattis) were applied to two groups: ECD (n=14) with SMC and residents (n=14) of a long-term care facility (LTCF) without SMC. Results: The median age in the ECD group was 81.0 years, and in the LTCF group was 75.0 years. There was a statistically significant difference (p=0.048) between these groups regarding age. Concerning schooling (1-8 or ³9 years), there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p=0.638). No statistically significant difference between the two groups was found for scores on the cognitive tests. Conclusion: SMC might be related to extrinsic factors other than insipient cognitive decline.

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Subjective memory complaints, depressive symptoms and cognition in patients attending a memory outpatient clinic

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610213002263 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 463-473 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

J. Lehrner ◽

D. Moser ◽

S. Klug ◽

A. Gleiß ◽

E. Auff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Patient Group ◽

Outpatient Clinic ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Control Group ◽

Subjective Memory Complaints ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Memory Complaints ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Amci Group

ABSTRACTBackground:The goals of this study were to establish prevalence of subjective memory complaints (SMC) and depressive symptoms (DS) and their relation to cognitive functioning and cognitive status in an outpatient memory clinic cohort.Methods:Two hundred forty-eight cognitively healthy controls and 581 consecutive patients with cognitive complaints who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study.Results:A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) between control group and patient group regarding mean SMC was detected. 7.7% of controls reported a considerable degree of SMC, whereas 35.8% of patients reported considerable SMC. Additionally, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) between controls and patient group regarding Beck depression score was detected. 16.6% of controls showed a clinical relevant degree of DS, whereas 48.5% of patients showed DS. An analysis of variance revealed a statistically significant difference across all four groups (control group, SCI group, naMCI group, aMCI group) (p < 0.001). Whereas 8% of controls reported a considerable degree of SMC, 34% of the SCI group, 31% of the naMCI group, and 54% of the aMCI group reported considerable SMC. A two-factor analysis of variance with the factors cognitive status (controls, SCI group, naMCI group, aMCI group) and depressive status (depressed vs. not depressed) and SMC as dependent variable revealed that both factors were significant (p < 0.001), whereas the interaction was not (p = 0.820).Conclusions:A large proportion of patients seeking help in a memory outpatient clinic report considerable SMC, with an increasing degree from cognitively healthy elderly to aMCI. Depressive status increases SMC consistently across groups with different cognitive status.

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Subjective Memory Complaints and Mild Cognitive Impairment

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(09)71326-4 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (S1) ◽

pp. 1-1 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. Simoes ◽

L.C. Castro ◽

O. Ribeiro ◽

T. Salgado ◽

C. Paz

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

The Elderly ◽

Future Research ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Subjective Memory Complaints ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Memory Complaints ◽

Increased Risk

Background:Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC) are common in clinical practice. the clinical significance of these subjective complaints among older individuals is not well understood.Aim:To study and discuss the association between SMC and MCI, underlining the importance of an adequate clinical assessment of SMC in the elderly.Methods:Review of the literature.Results:There is no consistent definition of SMC in the literature. Some prospective studies showed an association with objective memory impairments, conceptualizing SMC as a Pre-Mild Cognitive Impairment. SMC are also currently considered to be a core feature of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Cross-sectional studies and longitudinal studies showed conflicting results concerning the association between SMC and MCI.Discussion:The understanding of the predictive value of SMC in cognitive decline is still poorly understood. It is important to define criteria aimed to increase specificity of memory complaints, allowing an earlier identification of populations with higher risk of MCI. Future research on this complex association is important to identify SMC individuals at increased risk of conversion to MCI and dementia.

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The roles of study setting, response bias, and personality in subjective memory complaints of cognitively normal older adults

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610220000319 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Sarah M. Goldberg ◽

Oscar L. Lopez ◽

Ann D. Cohen ◽

William E. Klunk ◽

Howard A. Aizenstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Response Bias ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Subjective Memory Complaints ◽

Memory Clinic ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Cognitively Normal ◽

Memory Complaints ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Neuroimaging Study

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study investigated subjective memory complaints in older adults and the roles of setting, response bias, and personality. Design: Cognitively normal older adults from two settings completed questionnaires measuring memory complaints, response bias, and personality. Settings: (A) Neuroimaging study with community-based recruitment and (B) academic memory clinic. Participants: Cognitively normal older adults who (A) volunteer for research (N = 92) or (B) self-referred to a memory clinic (N = 20). Measurements: Neuropsychological evaluation and adjudication of normal cognitive status were done by the neuroimaging study or memory clinic. This study administered self-reports of subjective memory complaints, response bias, five-factor personality, and depressive symptoms. Primary group differences were examined with secondary sensitivity analyses to control for sex, age, and education differences. Results: There was no significant difference in over-reporting response bias between study settings. Under-reporting response bias was higher in volunteers. Cognitive complaints were associated with response bias for two cognitive complaint measures. Neuroticism was positively associated with over-reporting in evaluation-seekers and negatively associated with under-reporting in volunteers. The relationship was reversed for Extraversion. Under-reporting bias was positively correlated with Agreeableness and Conscientiousness in volunteers. Conclusion: Evaluation-seekers do not show bias toward over-reporting symptoms compared to volunteers. Under-reporting response bias may be important to consider when screening for memory impairment in non-help-seeking settings. The Memory Functioning Questionnaire was less sensitive to reporting biases. Over-reporting may be a facet of higher Neuroticism. Findings help elucidate psychological influences on self-perceived cognitive decline and help seeking in aging and may inform different strategies for assessment by setting.

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Suicidal ideation among the elderly living in the community: Correlation with living arrangement, subjective memory complaints, and depression

Journal of Affective Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.066 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dabin Kim ◽

Daeho Kim ◽

Kounseok Lee ◽

Nayeon Choi ◽

Sungwon Roh

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Living Arrangement ◽

The Elderly ◽

Subjective Memory Complaints ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Memory Complaints ◽

Elderly Living

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New Contemplation Upon Subjective Memory Complaints as a Self-Report Criterion for MCI Diagnosis

Current Alzheimer Research ◽

10.2174/1567205018666210416095437 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

Author(s):

Merav Papirovitz ◽

Ariela Gigi

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Semantic Memory ◽

Self Report ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Subjective Memory Complaints ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Memory Complaints ◽

Significant Difference

Background: Subjective memory complaints are a key component in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosis. However, studies that examined memory awareness among MCI participants have published contradictory results. One possible explanation for the inconsistent findings could be the disregard from the multidimensional structure of subjective memory. Objectives: The present study is directed at assessing subjective memory among healthy and MCI participants, referring to three main types of memory: episodic, semantic, and working memory. Method: Participants were 123 adults (aged 50-90). They were divided into two groups, the MCI group, and the control group, according to their objective cognitive performance in RAVL or Mo- CA tests. All participants filled a subjective memory questionnaire, assessing their awareness of episodic, semantic, and working memory. Results: MCI participants estimated their semantic memory as significantly lower in comparison to the estimation of the healthy controls. By contrast, MCI participants showed an overestimation of their episodic memory capabilities compared to the control group. No significant difference was found between groups (MCI and healthy controls) in evaluating their working memory. In addi- tion, for both groups, Pearson’s correlation revealed a significant negative correlation between age and semantic memory evaluation. Such correlation was not found for subjective episodic memory. Discussion: Findings suggest that while people with MCI exhibit poor awareness of their episodic and working memory capabilities, their awareness of their decrease in semantic memory is appar- ently intact. Therefore, it is suggested that when using the self-report criterion for MCI diagnosis, clinicians should consider the patient’s’ semantic memory complaints.

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Subjective memory complaints and cognitive performance in a sample of healthy elderly

Dementia & Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1590/s1980-57642009dn20100009 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 42-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Paulo Caramelli ◽

Rogério Gomes Beato

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Performance ◽

Digit Span ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Subjective Memory Complaints ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Subjective Impression ◽

Elderly Individuals ◽

Memory Complaints ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Memory loss is a major complaint among the elderly population. However, the clinical significance of this symptom is variable and also controversial in the scientific literature. Objective: To compare the cognitive performance of two groups of healthy elderly, one group with and the other without, subjective memory complaints (SMC). Methods: Sixty cognitively intact elderly individuals (39 females and 21 males), aged 69.9±6.3 years and with educational level of 8.5±5.5 years, were included in the study. Participants were submitted to the Mini-Mental State Examination and to the Cornell depression scale in order to rule out global cognitive impairment and depression, respectively. Moreover, they answered the MAC-Q, a questionnaire devised to evaluate subjective impression of memory function. Subsequently, they were submitted to the digit span forward and backward, the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery, and to the Frontal Assessment Battery. Results: Twenty-seven individuals had MAC-Q scores <25 and thus were classified as not having SMC, while 33 had MAC-Q scores ³25 and were considered to have SMC. No differences for age, gender, education and MMSE scores were found between the two groups. The comparison between the performance of the groups of complainers and non-complainers on the different cognitive tests yielded no significant difference, although there was a trend toward non-complainers performing better on incidental memory. Conclusions: The presence of SMC was not associated to objective memory impairment or to other cognitive deficits in this group of elderly individuals.

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