Subjective Memory Complaints, Cognitive Performance, and Psychological Factors in Healthy Older Adults

Abstract

Objective To determine whether subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are associated with performance on objective cognitive measures and psychological factors in healthy, community-dwelling older adults. Method The cohort was composed of adults, 65 years and older with no clinical evidence of cognitive impairment (n = 125). Participants were administered: CogState computerized neurocognitive battery, Prospective Retrospective Memory Questionnaire, personality and meaning-in-life measures. Results SMCs were associated with poorer performance on measures of executive function (p = 0.001). SMCs were also associated with impaired delayed recall (p = 0.006) but this did not remain significant after statistical adjustment for multiple comparisons. SMCs were inversely associated with conscientiousness (p = 0.004) and directly associated with neuroticism (p < 0.001). Higher scores on SMCs were associated with higher perceived stress (p = 0.001), and ineffective coping styles (p = 0.001). Factors contributing to meaning-in-life were associated with fewer SMCs (p < 0.05). Conclusions SMCs may reflect early, subtle cognitive changes and are associated with personality traits and meaning-in-life in healthy, older adults.

Subjective Cognitive Decline, Objective Cognition, and Depression in Older Hispanics Screened for Memory Impairment

“…These results in Hispanic older adults replicate previous findings in non-Hispanic Whites [8, 9] and support the conclusion that SCD is more indicative of symptoms of depression than concurrent cognitive function in older Hispanics who report cognitive complaints to their primary care physician [5, 19–21]. The findings are also consistent with previous studies that have shown that subjective memory complaints are associated with sub-syndromal or sub-clinical depression in community-dwelling older adults [19, 22]. …”

“…This suggests that objective decline could be detected in those with SCD if more sensitive neuropsychological tests were applied. Consistent with this possibility, some studies have found that older adults with SCD have subtle changes in episodic memory, psychomotor speed, language or executive functions compared to those without SCD [22, 25–27]; however, these subtle cognitive differences are very difficult to capture at the individual level [28], and potential mediating factors such as mood, personality characteristics, and cognitive reserve were not always ruled out in these studies [22]. Although several neuropsychological tests were used to measure objective cognitive performance in the present study, it is possible that a relationship with SCD may have been observed, even after accounting for the relationship between SCD and symptoms of depression, with more sensitive measures of cognition.…”

Computerized Cognitive Testing for Use in Clinical Trials: A Comparison of the Nih Toolbox and Cogstate C3 Batteries

“…Computerized testing has been proposed as a feasible and reliable way of testing older participants (1–4). Studies examining the validity of computerized cognitive composites in relation to performance on conventional neuropsychological instruments are accruing (5–8), and furthermore, computerized testing has already become a secondary outcome in a major clinical trial (9). Until recently, however, clinical trials have relied upon conventional paper and pencil neuropsychological tests, as they represent a gold-standard in clinical testing and diagnostic decision-making (for a discussion, see: 10).…”

Instruments of Active Search and Assessment of Memory Complaint. A Systematic Review

“…Taken together, these findings are indicative more of a reflection of humor states and personality regarding self-reported memory assessed by PRMQ in an older population than individual differences in memory and cognitive capacity. Eschen et al [35] and Steinberg et al [36] assessed PRMQ utility for an initial MCI screening; amongst its findings MCI patients reported greater prospective and retrospective memory deficits. In a healthy older adults sample, the authors described a higher quantity of subjective prospective memory complaints compared to retrospective memory.…”