Abstract
Memory loss is a major complaint among the elderly population. However, the clinical significance of this symptom is variable and also controversial in the scientific literature.ObjectiveTo compare the cognitive performance of two groups of healthy elderly, one group with and the other without, subjective memory complaints (SMC).MethodsSixty cognitively intact elderly individuals (39 females and 21 males), aged 69.9±6.3 years and with educational level of 8.5±5.5 years, were included in the study. Participants were submitted to the Mini-Mental State Examination and to the Cornell depression scale in order to rule out global cognitive impairment and depression, respectively. Moreover, they answered the MAC-Q, a questionnaire devised to evaluate subjective impression of memory function. Subsequently, they were submitted to the digit span forward and backward, the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery, and to the Frontal Assessment Battery.ResultsTwenty-seven individuals had MAC-Q scores <25 and thus were classified as not having SMC, while 33 had MAC-Q scores ≥25 and were considered to have SMC. No differences for age, gender, education and MMSE scores were found between the two groups. The comparison between the performance of the groups of complainers and non-complainers on the different cognitive tests yielded no significant difference, although there was a trend toward non-complainers performing better on incidental memory.ConclusionsThe presence of SMC was not associated to objective memory impairment or to other cognitive deficits in this group of elderly individuals.
Highlights
Memory loss is a major complaint among the elderly population
We found no significant difference in the performance of elderly subjects with and without subjective memory complaints (SMC) on a series of brief cognitive tests assessing attention, episodic and semantic memory, and executive functions
A trend toward a significant difference emerged for the subtest of incidental memory from the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB), an item that is more related to attention than to memory itself
Summary
Abstract – Memory loss is a major complaint among the elderly population. the clinical significance of this symptom is variable and controversial in the scientific literature. Participants were submitted to the MiniMental State Examination and to the Cornell depression scale in order to rule out global cognitive impairment and depression, respectively They answered the MAC-Q, a questionnaire devised to evaluate subjective impression of memory function. Conclusions: The presence of SMC was not associated to objective memory impairment or to other cognitive deficits in this group of elderly individuals. Objetivo: Comparar o desempenho cognitivo de dois grupos de idosos saudáveis, um com e outro sem queixas subjetivas de memória. Female gender and low educational level are generally associated with a higher prevalence of memory complaints.[1] In an autopsy study, SMCs were found to be related to the presence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology in elderly with and without dementia, suggesting that memory complaints in older persons may be a sign of self awareness of a degenerative process.[4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
