A-22 Effect of Dementia Experience on the Relationship between Subjective Cognitive Decline, Illness Perceptions, and Dementia Worry

Abstract

Abstract Objective Dementia worry (DW) is anxious rumination about personal risk for dementia and may be related to subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Personal experience with dementia may affect DW. Another possibly related factor is illness perceptions, or beliefs about illness which can influence health outcomes. We examined whether SCD and illness perceptions, specifically personal and treatment controllability, predicted DW, and whether dementia experience moderated these effects. Method Ohioans (≥50 years old) completed an online survey. 60 participants reported no personal dementia experience. 100 participants endorsed having a biological relative with dementia. Illness perceptions were measured with a modified Illness Perception Questionnaire focused on cognitive decline. DW was measured with the Dementia Worry Scale and SCD was measured with the Cognitive Function Questionnaire (CFQ). Results In those with no dementia experience, SCD interacted with personal controllability (p = 0.016) and treatment controllability (p = 0.011) to predict DW. SCD and DW were related only in those with high belief that dementia is not personally (p = 0.018) or professionally controllable (0.002). However, in those with dementia experience, there were main effects for SCD (p < 0.001) and treatment controllability (p = 0.006), but no significant interaction. Conclusions Dementia experience and illness perceptions (personal and treatment control) are important factors to consider in the relationship of SCD to DW. Results highlight the importance of illness perceptions and personal dementia experience in health seeking behaviors. Future research should investigate level and frequency of experience in relation to illness perceptions, and examine how educational programs about dementia may influence illness perceptions and DW.