OBJECTIVE-SUBJECTIVE DISPARITY IN COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: A CROSS-SECTIONAL INVESTIGATION IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Abstract

Subjective memory complaint (SMC), now recognised as a prodromal phase of dementia, is linked to poor working memory and attention in perimenopausal women; whether this association remains postmenopausally is unknown. We examined the predictive value for subjective complaints of (a) objective indices of cognitive performance; (b) cardio-metabolic status, and (c) perceptions of well-being in a cross-sectional study. The following baseline measures were recorded in 142 postmenopausal women aged 65±1 years who were enrolled in a two-year resveratrol intervention trial: 10 neuropsychological tests that assess cognitive domains of processing speed, attention, language, working, verbal and episodic memory and cognitive flexibility; cardio-metabolic measures of blood pressure, systemic and cerebral arterial compliance, HOMA-IR and fasting lipids; perceptions of well-being including depressive symptoms, mood states, sleep quality, menopausal symptoms, quality-of-life (using SF-36) and osteoarthritic pain. When asked ‘Do you perceive any memory or cognitive difficulties?’, 68 women responded ‘yes’ and were grouped as SMC. Verbal and episodic memory performances were higher in the SMC group (P=0.022 and 0.011 respectively). No significant differences were seen for all other domains or in their cardio-metabolic status or age or education level. However, the SMC group reported 66% more depressive symptoms (P<0.001), twice likely to have mood disturbances (P=0.012), more menopausal symptoms (32% higher, P=0.009), lower quality-of-life (P=0.015) and 54% increase in daytime dysfunction due to sleepiness (P=0.003). Pain did not differ between groups. In our cohort, poor mood states, sleep quality and quality-of-life were associated with SMC. However, SMC did not reflect cardio-metabolic abnormalities or objective cognitive dysfunction. The link between SMC and future cognitive impairment is still unclear.