Memory complaints in older adults: Prognostic value and stability in reporting over time. (27th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Howieson, Diane B; Mattek, Nora; Dodge, Hiroko H; Erten-Lyons, Deniz; Zitzelberger, Tracy; Kaye, Jeffrey A
• Is Part Of: SAGE open medicine. Volume 3(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-02-27
• Subjects: Subjective memory complaints -- memory complaint -- mild cognitive impairment -- Alzheimer's disease -- preclinical dementia -- cognitive aging -- dementia; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1177/2050312115574796
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-3121

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the prognostic value of subjective memory complaints in 156 cognitively intact community-dwelling older adults with a mean age of 83 years. Methods: Participants were assessed for subjective memory complaints, cognitive performance, functional status, and mood at annual evaluations with a mean follow-up of 4.5 years. Results: Subjective memory complaint at entry (n = 24) was not associated with impaired memory performance and did not predict memory decline or progression to incipient dementia. Memory complaints were inconsistent across examinations for 62% of participants who reported memory problems. Conclusion: Memory complaints by older adults are inconsistent over time. Memory complaints' value as a research criterion for selecting people at risk of dementia is weak among community-dwelling older adults. Age, length of follow-up, and other population characteristics may affect the implication of self-reported memory problems.