To investigate the association between subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and long-term risk of cognitive impairment in aging because most previous studies have followed individuals for only a few years.
Participants were 1,107 cognitively normal, community-dwelling older women (aged 65 years and older at baseline) in a prospective study of aging. SMCs were assessed shortly after baseline and repeatedly over time with the yes/no question, “Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most?” Cognitive status 18 years later (normal or impaired with mild cognitive impairment or dementia) was determined by an expert panel. Using logistic regression, we investigated the association between SMCs over time and risk of cognitive impairment, adjusting for demographics, baseline cognition, and characteristics that differed between those with and without SMCs.
At baseline, 8.0% of participants (n = 89) endorsed SMCs. Baseline SMCs were associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment 18 years later (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1–2.8). Results were unchanged after excluding participants with depression. The association between SMCs and cognitive impairment was greatest at the last SMC assessment time point (18 years before diagnosis: adjusted OR = 1.7 [1.1–2.9]; 14 years before diagnosis: adjusted OR = 1.6 [0.9–2.7]; 10 years before diagnosis: adjusted OR = 1.9 [1.1–3.1]; 4 years before diagnosis: adjusted OR = 3.0 [1.8–5.0]).
Alzheimer's Association International Conference, Travel Fellowship to annual meeting (July 2013)
Akili Interactive Labs provided Dr. Kaup access to their software program and tablet device to utilize in research separate from and unrelated to the present study.
1) VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, (RR&D) Career Development Award (CDA-2), 1IK2RX001629, PI, 2015-present; 2) My salary was previously funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations, Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment, Department of Veterans Affairs, Postdoctoral fellow, July 2012-January 2015.
-DSMB for Takeda, Inc -DSMB for DIAN - Beeson Advisory Scientific Committee - Alzheimer's Association Medical & Scientific Advisory Council
-Associate Editor, 2011-, International Review of Psychiatry -Associate Editor 2012-, Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences -Editorial Board Member 2014-, Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer?s Disease
Go to Neurology.org for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.