OBJECTIVES:
Cognitive impairment in the elderly is frequently overlooked by general practitioners. The use of subjective memory complaints as a sign of cognitive impairment by the general practice is controversial.
METHODS:
Elderly individuals (N = 248) were asked whether they had memory complaints and underwent a cognitive impairment screening. Subjects classified as exhibiting “probable cognitive impairment” underwent a complete cognitive evaluation, and the final diagnoses were established by expert consensus.
RESULTS:
A total of 147 patients presented with subjective memory complaints, and 43 were further classified as demented or “cognitively impaired not demented”. Subjective memory complaints presented a sensitivity of 100% and a negative predictive value of 100%.
CONCLUSION:
Subjective memory complaints are an indicator for cognitive impairment screening.
General Practice; Primary Health Care; Cognitive Disorders; Age-Related Memory Disorder