Subjective Memory Loss Research Articles

A pilot study to assess blood-brain barrier permeability in long COVID.

The etiology of brain fog associated with long COVID is not clear. Based on some preliminary work, disruption of the blood-brain barrier has been hypothesized, but has not been tested in patients with long COVID. In this case-control pilot study, we evaluated blood-brain barrier permeability in patients with long COVID and subjective memory loss or brain fog. We used 99m Technetium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to measure blood-brain barrier permeability and a telephone assessment (T-cog) to measure cognitive function. The blood-brain barrier permeability was quantified via SPECT standard uptake value (SUV). We assessed the blood-brain barrier permeability in 14 long COVID patients and 10 control participants without subjective cognitive impairment or brain fog. Participants in the two groups were similar in age. The long COVID group had more comorbidities compared to the control group. There was no difference in the SUVs in the long COVID (0.22 ± 0.12) vs the control (0.17 ± 0.04) group. There was no difference in the T-cog results in the two groups either. We found no evidence of a difference in blood-brain permeability in patients with long COVID when compared to controls without a known history of COVID-19 infection. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Neurocognitive Effects of an Online Brain Health Program and Weekly Telehealth Support Group in Older Adults with Subjective Memory Loss: A Pilot Study.

Adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors has the potential to slow cognitive decline in older adults by reducing risks associated with dementia. Curriculum-based group health coaching may aid in establishing behavior change centered for dementia risk factors. In this pilot clinical care patient group study (n = 6), we examined the effects of a six-month online Cognitive Health Program combined with a weekly telehealth support group led by the course creator, and personalized health optimization by a collaborating physician, in older adults with subjective cognitive decline. Cognition was assessed at baseline and post-intervention using a computerized battery. Cognitive changes were estimated with nonparametric tests and effect sizes (Cohen's d). Results showed significant improvements in global cognition (p < 0.03, d = 1.6), spatial planning (p < 0.01, d = 2.3), and visuospatial processing (p < 0.05, d = 1.1) compared to baseline. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the virtual group format and online curriculum. This small pilot study suggests that a virtual six-month personalized health coaching group with self-paced online health education is feasible and potentially efficacious for improving cognition in participants with subjective cognitive complaints. This format may facilitate behavior change to slow cognitive decline. Future studies should include a control group, a larger, more diverse sample as well as assessing mood and other subjective measures.

Factors influencing patient-provider communication about subjective cognitive decline in people with COPD: Insights from a national survey.

Objective: While there is a growing body of evidence indicating a relationship between COPD and cognitive impairment, there is a gap in evidence regarding discussions of cognitive symptoms in healthcare settings. This study investigated the extent to which individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) self-reported confusion or memory loss with healthcare professionals. Methods: A secondary analysis of 2019 BRFSS data of US adults aged 45+ with COPD (N = 107,204), using logistic regression to explore associations between socio-demographic and health-related indicators with discussion of cognitive symptoms with healthcare professionals. Results: Less than half (45.88%) of individuals reporting SCD discussed their cognitive symptoms with their healthcare provider. In the adjusted model, unemployed (AOR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.70-5.02, p < .005), retired (AOR = 3.16, 95% CI: 1.37-7.30, p < .01), and current smokers (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.02-2.93, p < .05) were more likely to discuss cognitive decline with a healthcare professional than their counterparts. In contrast, males (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.32-0.86, p < .05) and binge drinkers (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.30-0.79, p < .01) were significantly less likely to do so when compared to their counterparts. Discussion: The study highlighted significant disparities in the likelihood of individuals with COPD discussing cognitive symptoms based on socio-demographic and health risk behaviors. Conclusion: Addressing gender disparities, occupational status, and personal health risks is crucial for improving patient-provider communication about SCD among adults with COPD.

Nature As a "Lifeline": The Power of Photography When Exploring the Experiences of Older Adults Living With Memory Loss and Memory Concerns.

The visual is an underutilized modality through which to investigate experiences of memory loss in older people. We describe a visual ethnography with older adults experiencing subjective or objective memory loss, receiving a cognitive well-being group intervention designed to prevent cognitive decline and dementia (APPLE-Tree program). We aimed to explore lived experiences of people with memory concerns, how participants engaged with this photography and codesign project, and how collaboration with an artist/photographer enhanced this process. Nineteen participants shared photographs reflecting what they valued in their daily lives, their experiences of memory concerns, and the intervention. Fourteen participated in qualitative photo-elicitation interviews, and 13 collaborated with a professional artist/photographer to cocreate an exhibition, in individual meetings and workshops, during which a researcher took ethnographic field notes. Eight participants were reinterviewed after the exhibition launch.We contextualize images produced by participants in relation to discourses around the visual and aging and highlight their relationship with themes developed through thematic analysis that interconnects photographic, observational, and interview data. We present themes around the use of photographs to: (1) celebrate connections to nature as a lifeline; (2) anchor lives within the context of relationships with family; and (3) reflect on self and identity, enduring through aging, memory concerns, pandemic, and aging stereotypes. We explore visual research as a powerful tool for eliciting meaningful accounts from older adults experiencing cognitive change and to connect the arts and social sciences within aging studies.

Relationship among the Performances of Subjective Memory, Objective Memory, and Naming in Healthy Elderly Adults

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify relationships performances among subjective memory, objective memory, and naming of healthy elderly adults. Methods: A total of 77 healthy elderly adults aged 65 or older in South Korea participated in this study. Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire was used to evaluate the subjective memory loss of the elderly, and the Seoul Verbal Learning Test was used to evaluate objective memory. The Korean version of Boston Naming Test was used as a confrontation naming task and Controlled Oral Word Association Test was used as a generative naming task. Results: First, the subjective memory and objective memory of the healthy elderly adults showed a significant correlation, and the naming performances of the healthy elderly adults showed a significant correlation with the recall ability of the objective memory. In addition, it could be seen that the ‘supermarket’ category of the generative naming was a task that reflected both subjective and objective memory of the general elderly. Conclusion: The results of this study are meaningful in that they have identified the usefulness of subjective memory reporting at clinical sites and in that they have presented basic data on the subjective·objective memory and the naming performances of healthy elderly adults.

Adjunctive Magnetic Seizure Therapy for Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review

Objective: The efficacy and safety of adjunctive magnetic seizure therapy (MST) for patients with schizophrenia are unclear. This systematic review was conducted to examine the efficacy and safety of adjunctive MST for schizophrenia.Methods: Chinese (WanFang and Chinese Journal Net) and English (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library) databases were systematically searched.Results: Two open-label self-controlled studies (n = 16) were included and analyzed in this review. In these studies, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total scores and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) total scores significantly decreased from baseline to post-MST (all Ps < 0.05), without serious adverse neurocognitive effects. Mixed findings on the neurocognitive effects of adjunctive MST for schizophrenia were reported in the two studies. A discontinuation rate of treatment of up to 50% (4/8) was reported in both studies. The rate of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was evaluated in only one study, where the most common ADRs were found to be dizziness (25%, 2/8) and subjective memory loss (12.5%, 1/8).Conclusion: There is inconsistent evidence for MST-related adverse neurocognitive effects and preliminary evidence for the alleviation of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia.

Exploratory cross‐sectional mediation analysis of the dual‐task effect of cognition on gait in individuals with memory loss

AbstractBackgroundMemory loss is one of the hallmark symptoms of cognitive impairment that progresses towards dementia. Different cognitive domains (CD) have been suggested to influence the performance of dual‐task (DT) activities. While there is evidence of DT effects on those with mild cognitive impairment and other dementias, the impact of DT on those with subjective memory loss is unknown.MethodParticipants (n=57; mean age: 72.72±10.56 years) with memory loss but without a diagnosis of cognitive impairment, dementia, or other neurodegenerative diseases were included. They performed validated computerized cognitive assessment battery (CAB, NeuroTrax BrainCare) to obtain CD measures of executive function (EF), attention, memory, visual‐spatial processing (VSP), information processing speed (IPS), and a global cognitive score (GCS) measure. Using the Zeno Walkway Gait Analysis System (Protokinetics), measures of velocity, stride width (SW), stride time (ST), stride length, cadence, double support (DS), and gait variability were obtained for both single‐task and DT gait. Participants chose between performing the DT gait by either recalling names (n=14), counting backward by 3’s (n=16), or by 7’s (n=27), which were used as group assignments for analysis. A three‐group cross‐sectional mediation analysis was performed using standardized cognitive measures as mediators and the DT effect (DTE) of the gait parameters as outcomes of interest. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 26 and SPSS AMOS 26.ResultNo significant mediators of cognition on the dual‐task effect of either task were identified. However, increases in individual CD significantly predicted improvement of DTE in specific gait parameters: (1) memory significantly predicted DTE stride time (Effect size by standardized beta(ES)=0.343,p=0.022) and DTE double support (ES=0.322,p=0.033); (2) GCS (ES=0.388,p=0.028), attention (ES=0.348,p=0.007), and IPS (ES=0.290,p=0.027) significantly predicted DTE stride width; and (3) Attention (ES=0.282,p=0.047) significantly predicted DTE cadence. Furthermore, between‐group analysis showed significant differences in VSP (F(2,54)=8.820,p&lt;0.001), IPS (F(2,54)=3.350,p=0.043) and GS (F(2,54)=5.149,p=0.009).ConclusionResults suggest that individual CD (VSP, IPS, and/or GS) scores impact different aspects of dual tasking gait in individuals with memory loss. While there were no significant mediators, the significant cognitive predictors suggest improvement of those individual CD could improve the DTE of individual gait measures.

A study of automatic segmentation of White Matter Hyperintensity for detection of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of neurodegenerative disorders involving a long-term and generally significant decrease in cognitive performance. Age is the main risk factor for neural disorder, and so it is the aged who are highly affected by this neural disorder. Because of the intensity of the spread of this disease on a global level, organizations and researchers are continuing to invest in the early detection and prevention of such disorders, with an emphasis on proper treatment and medication. Cost-efficient and scalable methods for detecting dementia from some of the most extreme ways are required, similar to the early stages of Subjective Memory Loss (SML), to more drastic stages like Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD) itself. The focus of this work is to build a reliable Deep learning algorithm based on the OASIS, ADNI, and WMH challenge dataset for the identification of cognitive impairment (CI).In this paper an elaborate review has been made of the various methodologies and algorithms used in various frameworks to efficiently and automatically segment WMH (White Matter Hyperintensities) in the brain to detect lesions and areas related to various anomalies, Alzheimer’s being one of them.

Sleep quality, neurocognitive performance, and memory self-appraisal in middle-aged and older adults with memory complaints.

Objective:Because of inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive function in people with age-related memory complaints, we examined how self-reports of sleep quality were related to multiple domains of both objective and subjective cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults.Design:A cross-sectional study involving analysis of baseline data, collected as part of a clinical trial.Measurements:Two hundred and three participants (mean age = 60.4 [6.5] years, 69.0% female) with mild memory complaints were asked to rate their sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and their memory performance using the Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ), which measures self-awareness of memory ability. Neurocognitive performance was evaluated using the Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Trail Making Test, Buschke Selective Reminding Test, and the Brief Visuospatial Test – Revised (BVMT-R).Results:Total PSQI scores were significantly associated with objective measures of sustained attention (CPT hit reaction time by block and standard error by block) and subjective memory loss (MFQ frequency and seriousness of forgetting). The PSQI components of (poorer) sleep quality and (greater) sleep disturbance were related to (worse) sustained attention scores while increased sleep latency and daytime sleepiness were associated with greater frequency and seriousness of forgetting.Conclusions:Sleep quality is related to both objective measures of sustained attention and self-awareness of memory decline. These findings suggest that interventions for improving sleep quality may contribute not only to improving the ability to focus on a particular task but also in reducing memory complaints in middle-aged and older adults.

Effect of Pushen capsule for treating vascular mild cognitive impairment: a pilot observational study.

ObjectiveTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may be beneficial for vascular dementia (VaD). We evaluated the efficacy of Pushen capsule, a compound containing several TCM components, for treating vascular mild cognitive impairment (VaMCI).MethodsSeventy outpatients with VaMCI were randomized to Pushen capsule or control treatment with Ginkgo biloba. Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Subjective Memory Loss Rating Scale scores; and lipid, lipoprotein, and haemorheological parameters were collected at baseline, week 4, and week 12 of treatment.ResultsMMSE score at week 12 was significantly higher in the treatment group compared with baseline (t = −2.352) but was not significantly different from week 12 in the control group. The MoCA score at week 12 was higher than that at baseline for both the treatment and control groups (t = −2.619 and −2.582, respectively), as was the “delayed recall” item score. Subjective memory loss score and the cognitive function “forgetting acquaintance's name” were significantly higher in the treatment group at week 12 than at baseline (t = −2.621 and χ2 = 4.419, respectively). Lipid, lipoprotein, and haemorheological parameters were significantly different after treatment in both groups.ConclusionThe benefits of Pushen capsule on cognitive function in VaMCI were comparable with that of Ginkgo biloba.

Relational experiences of people seeking help and assessment for subjective cognitive concern and memory loss

Objective: To understand the experience of people who seek help for subjective cognitive concern and memory loss, including people not referred for further assessment. To understand the patients’ perspective of the medical process of receiving a cognitive assessment. This work is situated within the context of policy priorities for dementia diagnosis.Methods: Participants with and without dementia were recruited through NHS trusts and community organisations in four regional areas in England. Data were collected using longitudinal qualitative interviews. Transcript data were thematically analysed.Results: Sample of 41 people (mean 75 years, 25 dementia diagnoses). Interpretative thematic analyses focused on the presence or absence of trust in relational experiences. There were three transition points where trust could be specifically developed or undermined: (1) deciding to seek help; (2) healthcare practitioners’ response to help-seeking; (3) process and outcome of assessment. Triggers for help-seeking for subjective cognitive concern were being prompted by family and knowing a relative with dementia. When participants perceived healthcare practitioners’ behaviour as dismissive, they had less trust in the outcome of the healthcare encounter. Misunderstandings and absence of trust in assessment processes led to participants stating they did not fully agree with the outcomes of the assessment.Conclusions: Healthcare practitioners have an important role in supporting people with subjective cognitive concern ensuring patients have trust in assessment outcomes. Where the validity of the assessment process is seen as ambiguous, people can be left dealing with uncertainty, rather than being clear about ways they can manage their condition, situation or status.

Can we predict amyloid deposition by objective cognition and regional cerebral blood flow in patients with subjective cognitive decline?

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may herald the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) whereas individuals with beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition are regarded as a high-risk group for AD. Recently, amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) studies have demonstrated clinical and cognitive feature differences between Aβ-positive and negative SCD, but details of their differences remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationships among Aβ deposition, clinical, and cognitive features in patients with SCD. Forty-two patients with SCD (22 women, 74.5 ± 4.7 years) were examined using fluorine-18 florbetaben PET and were divided into Aβ-positive (n = 10) and negative (n = 32) groups. We compared cognitive and psychological outcomes, and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging data between the two groups. In addition, a linear regression analysis was performed to assess relationships between the severity of SCD and neuropsychological tests, affective scores, and demographic factors. The rate of score changes from the immediate recall to delayed recall in the logical memory subtest of the Wechsler's Memory Scale Revised were different between the groups (P = 0.04). However, the binary logistic regression analysis showed no significant differences between the two. In addition, the severity of SCD was significantly strong in women (P = 0.002). Furthermore, within the Aβ-negative group, subjective memory loss correlated with word fluency category score (P = 0.023) and apathy scale (P = 0.037). No significant differences were observed between Aβ-positive and -negative SCD on any of the neuropsychological measures, clinical measures, or SPECT imaging. Further, the severity of SCD was not predicted by the symptoms of anxiety, depression, or neuropsychological examination.

Effect of Chlorogenic Acid Intake on Cognitive Function in the Elderly: A Pilot Study.

Objective To evaluate the effect of chlorogenic acids (CGAs) intake on cognitive function. Methods In this pilot study, the Cogstate and CNS Vital Signs test batteries were used to evaluate cognitive function in 8 healthy elderly men and women complaining of subjective memory loss after a 6-month intake of a test beverage containing 330 mg of CGAs just before bedtime. Results After a 6-month CGA intake period, significant improvement was observed in the One Back Test of the Cogstate, the Shifting Attention Test, and Finger Tapping Test as well as in the composite memory, verbal memory, complex attention, cognitive flexibility, executive function, and motor speed domains of the CNS Vital Signs test battery. Conclusion A 6-month intake of CGAs may improve attentional, executive, and memory functions in the elderly with complaints of subjective memory loss.

The relationship among unawareness of memory impairment, depression, and dementia in older adults with memory impairment in Singapore.

Previous research has studied the relationships among unawareness of memory impairment, depression, and dementia in older adults with severe dementia, but it has not considered the associations and clinical implications at earlier stages of memory impairment. This study therefore sought to examine the relationship among unawareness of memory impairment, depression, and dementia in older adults with memory impairment in Singapore. The participants were 751 older adults with memory impairment in Singapore. They were assessed for objective and subjective memory loss, depression, and dementia severity. Participants' subjective memory loss was determined based on a self-appraisal question on memory, and their objective memory loss was calculated based on their performance on three cognitive tasks. Unawareness was assessed based on the contrast between subjective and objective memory loss. Descriptive statistics revealed a high prevalence of unawareness (80.4%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that gender and marital status were significantly associated with unawareness. Men (odds ratio (OR) = 2.5) and those who were divorced or separated (OR = 23.0) were more likely to be unaware than women and those who were married, respectively. After chronic conditions and demographic characteristics were controlled for, multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that older adults with depression were less likely (OR = 0.2) to be unaware than those without depression. Unawareness was also related with dementia severity; older adults with questionable (OR = 0.3) and mild dementia (OR = 0.4) were less likely to be unaware than someone without dementia. Unawareness of memory impairment was common among older adults with memory impairment. However, unawareness may be the result of denial as a strategy for coping with memory loss of which the older adult is aware. Psychological care should be integrated into the overall treatment management of dementia to mitigate the possible risk of depression while increasing individual awareness of memory loss.

Is Bilingualism Associated With a Lower Risk of Dementia in Community-living Older Adults? Cross-sectional and Prospective Analyses

The aim of this study was to determine whether bilingualism is associated with dementia in cross-sectional or prospective analyses of older adults. In 1991, 1616 community-living older adults were assessed and were followed 5 years later. Measures included age, sex, education, subjective memory loss (SML), and the modified Mini-mental State Examination (3MS). Dementia was determined by clinical examination in those who scored below the cut point on the 3MS. Language status was categorized based upon self-report into 3 groups: English as a first language (monolingual English, bilingual English) and English as a Second Language (ESL). The ESL category had lower education, lower 3MS scores, more SML, and were more likely to be diagnosed with cognitive impairment, no dementia at both time 1 and time 2 compared with those speaking English as a first language. There was no association between being bilingual (ESL and bilingual English vs. monolingual) and having dementia at time 1 in bivariate or multivariate analyses. In those who were cognitively intact at time 1, there was no association between being bilingual and having dementia at time 2 in bivariate or multivariate analyses. We did not find any association between speaking >1 language and dementia.

Alzheimer’s Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Subjective Memory Loss

Alzheimer’s Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Subjective Memory Loss

Does Self-Rated Health Predict Dementia?

1. To determine if Self-Rated Health (SRH) predicts dementia over a five period in cognitively intact older adults, and in older adults with Cognitive Impairment, No Dementia (CIND); and 2. To determine if different methods of eliciting SRH (age-referenced (AR) versus unreferenced) yield similar results. Prospective cohort. 1468 cognitively intact adults and 94 older adults with CIND aged 65+ living in the community, followed over five years. Age, gender, education, subjective memory loss, depressive symptoms, functional status, cognition, SRH and AR-SRH were all measured; dementia was diagnosed on clinical examination. Those with abnormal cognition not meeting criteria for dementia were diagnosed with CIND. In those who were cognitively intact at time 1, and had good SRH: 69.4% were intact; 6.0% had CIND; 6.9% had dementia, and 17.7% had died at time 2, while in those with poor SRH: 44.9% were intact, 11.1% had CIND, 9.1% had dementia, and 34.8% had died (p<0.001, chi-square test). In multinomial regression models SRH predicted dementia and death. In those with CIND at time 1 and good SRH: 2.3% were intact: 18.6% had CIND; 34.9% had dementia and 44.2% had died at time 2, while in those with poor SRH: 4.8% were intact, 31.0% had CIND, 19.0% had dementia, and 43.6% had died (p=0.30, chi-square test). In multinomial regression models, this was not significant. AR-SRH analyses were similar. In cognitively intact older adults SRH predicts dementia. In older adults with CIND, SRH does not predict dementia.

The Predictive Value of the Memory Impairment Screen in Patients With Subjective Memory Complaints

The use of biomarkers in early Alzheimer's disease detection is growing. However, it is not clear whether sophisticated biomarker testing is more efficient than neuropsychological tests focused on memory. The goal of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of the Memory Impairment Screen (MIS), a simple and brief memory test, in elderly subjects with subjective memory loss. A prospective cohort of 105 patients with subjective memory loss was followed up from December 2007 to April 2011 in Zaragoza, Spain. At baseline, the patients underwent neuropsychological examination with Mini-Examen-Cognoscivo (Spanish adaptation of the Mini-Mental State Examination), MIS, Clinical Dementia Rating scale, Blessed Dementia Rating Scale, and Geriatric Depression Scale. The final endpoint of the study was the conversion to dementia, mostly of probable Alzheimer's disease type according to the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association work group criteria. The patients were reevaluated every 6 months. After a mean follow-up of 2 years (range, 1-4 years), 57 patients developed Alzheimer's disease and 48 did not. A baseline score of 0 or 1 on the MIS predicted conversion to Alzheimer's disease, with a sensitivity of 42.9%, a specificity of 98%, and a positive predictive value of 96%. The area under the curve was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.66-0.83). In the clinical setting in patients referred for memory complaints, the MIS score at baseline (0 and 1) is useful to predict who may develop Alzheimer's disease within at least a year. The MIS would be more useful when combined with a higher sensitivity test.

Appraisal of Cognition in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease: A Conceptual Review

Biomarker evidence and clinical observations support the hypothesis that there is a diagnosable condition termed preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, a workgroup convened under the auspices of the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association proposed a framework for defining preclinical AD. The definition was based on the presence of biomarkers that are indicative of the AD pathophysiological process. In the context of abnormal AD biomarkers, the workgroup postulated that 'subtle cognitive changes' occurred as well. Based on studies of genetically at-risk individuals and those destined to become demented, who were observed while still cognitively normal, low performance on learning and memory functions may be the earliest cognitive manifestations of preclinical AD, at the group level at least. It is not clear whether subtle cognitive decline can be detected reliably on an individual basis. Preclinical AD cognitive changes could be diagnosed by traditional neuropsychological testing, computerized testing, assessments of subjective memory loss, assessments of levels of participation in cognitively stimulating activities and direct measurement of activity using recently developed monitoring technology. Confounding effects of normal aging, test-retest variability, variations in educational attainment, as well as the presence of other brain diseases make diagnosing cognitive decline due to preclinical AD challenging.

Determining the association of medical co-morbidity with subjective and objective cognitive performance in an inner city memory disorders clinic: a retrospective chart review

BackgroundMedical co-morbidity may be associated with impaired cognitive function based on prior studies. However, no studies to date have determined to what extent this association is linked to medical illness or other factors that may be linked to medical illness (such as education, income levels, depression or subjective memory loss). The present study examined how medical co-morbidity, socioeconomic status (defined as residential SES), education and depression are associated with subjective and objective memory function in a sample of patients recruited from a university affiliated Memory Disorders Clinic located in a large Canadian inner city teaching hospital.MethodsData was collected from 85 consecutive referrals to an Inner City Memory Disorders Clinic including socio-demographic characteristics, cognitive status and medical co-morbidity. Descriptive and correlational analyses were conducted.ResultsImpaired objective cognitive function correlated significantly with increased medical co-morbidity and partially with education but not with residential SES or depression. Elevated memory complaints correlated significantly with depression, inversely with residential SES and not at all with medical co-morbidity or education.ConclusionsIncreased medical co-morbidity is significantly associated with impaired cognitive performance but not with subjective memory complaints in an Inner City Memory Clinic sample.