Subjective memory complaints in the elderly may be related to factors other than cognitive deficit

Aguiar, Ana Cristina Procópio de Oliveira; Ribeiro, Miriam Ikeda; Jacinto, Alessandro Ferrari

doi:10.1590/S1980-57642010DN40100009

Abstract

Prevalence of subjective memory complaints (SMC) in elderly community dwellers (ECD) ranges from 25 to 50%. Some controversy exists over the association between SMC and cognitive status. Objective: We investigated whether a correlation in cognitive performance existed between two different groups according to SMC. Methods: The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Dementia Rating Scale-Mattis (DRS-Mattis) were applied to two groups: ECD (n=14) with SMC and residents (n=14) of a long-term care facility (LTCF) without SMC. Results: The median age in the ECD group was 81.0 years, and in the LTCF group was 75.0 years. There was a statistically significant difference (p=0.048) between these groups regarding age. Concerning schooling (1-8 or ³9 years), there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p=0.638). No statistically significant difference between the two groups was found for scores on the cognitive tests. Conclusion: SMC might be related to extrinsic factors other than insipient cognitive decline.

Key words:
elderly; subjective memory complaint; mild cognitive impairment

Resumo

A prevalência de queixa subjetiva de memória (QSM) em idosos da comunidade (IRC) varia de 25-50%. Controvérsias existem a respeito da associação entre QSM e cognição. Objetivos: Foi investigado se há correlação entre QSM e declínio cognitivo em dois diferentes grupos. Método: Foi aplicado o Mini Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM) e a Escala de Avaliação de Demência Mattis (DRS-Mattis) em dois grupos de idosos: IRC (n=14) que apresentaram QSM e residentes (n=14) de uma instituição de longa permanência (ILP) sem QSM. Resultados: A mediana de idade do grupo "IRC" foi de 81,0 anos e a do grupo "ILP" foi de 75,0. Houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p=0,048) entre eles, considerando a idade. Não houve esta diferença (p=0,638) na distribuição dos indivíduos quando analisada a escolaridade (1-8 ou ³9 anos). Considerando-se os escores dos instrumentos cognitivos, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre grupos. Conclusões: QSM pode estar relacionada a outros fatores em idosos, e não somente à presença de declínio cognitivo.

Palavras-chaves:
idoso; queixa subjetiva de memória; comprometimento cognitivo leve

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References

¹
Jonker C, Geerlings MI, Schmand B. Are memory complaints predictive for dementia? A review of clinical and population-based studies. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2000;15:983-991.
²
Jungwirth S, Fischer P, Weissgram S, Kirchmeyr W, Bauer P, Tragl KH. Subjective memory complaints and objective memory impairment in the Vienna-Transdanube aging community. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004;52:263-268.
³
Riedel-Heller SG, Schork A, Matschinger H, Angermeyer MC. Subjective memory loss: a sign of cognitive impairment in the elderly? An overview of the status of research. Z Gerontol Geriatr 2000;33:9-16.
⁴
Jessen F, Feyen L, Freymann K, et al. Volume reduction of the entorhinal cortex in subjective memory impairment. Neurobiol Aging 2006;7:1751-1756.
⁵
Treves TA, Verchovsky R, Klimovitzky S, Korczyn AD. Incidence of dementia in patients with subjective memory complaints. Int Psychogeriatr 2005;17:265-273.
⁶
Gallassi R, Bisulli A, Oppi F, Poda R, Di Felice C. Subjective cognitive complaints, neuropsychological performance, affective and behavioural symptoms in non-demented patients. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2008;23:95-101.
⁷
Cook S, Marsiske M. Subjective memory beliefs and cognitive performance in normal and mildly impaired older adults. Aging Ment Health 2006;10:413-423.
⁸
Lam LC, Lui VW, Tam CW, Chiu HF. Subjective memory complaints in Chinese subjects with mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2005;20:876-882.
⁹
Minett TS, Da Silva RV, Ortiz KZ, Bertolucci PH. Subjective memory complaints in an elderly sample: a cross-sectional study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2008;23:9-54.
¹⁰
Frerichs RJ, Tuokko HA. Reliable change scores and their relation to perceived change in memory: implications for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2006;21:109-115.
¹¹
Flicker C, Ferris SH, Reisberg B. A longitudinal study of cognitive function in elderly persons with subjective memory complaints. J Am Geriatr Soc 1993;41: 1029-1032.
¹²
Olson E. Ethical issues in the nursing home. Mt Sinai J Med 1993;60:555-559.
¹³
Hayley DC, Cassel CK, Snyder L, Rudberg MA. Ethical and legal issues in nursing home care. Arch Intern Med 1996;156: 249-256.
¹⁴
Koepsell TD, Kurland BF, Harel O, Johnson EA, Zhou XH, Kukull WA. Education, cognitive function, and severity of neuropathology in Alzheimer disease. Neurology 2008;6:1732-1739.
¹⁵
Le Carret N, Auriacombe S, Letenneur L, Bergua V, Dartigues JF, Fabrigoule C. Influence of education on the pattern of cognitive deterioration in AD patients: the cognitive reserve hypothesis. Brain Cogn 2005;57:120-126.
¹⁶
Scarmeas N, Stern Y. Cognitive reserve and lifestyle. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2003;25:625-633.
¹⁷
Katzman R. Education and the prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Neurology 1993;43:13-20.
¹⁸
Ciconelli RM, Ferraz M B, Santos W, Meinão I, Marina RQ. Tradução para a Língua Portuguesa e validação do questionário genérico de avaliação de qualidade de vida SF-36 (Brasil SF-36). Rev Bras Reumatol 1999;39:143-150.
¹⁹
Jacinto AF. Alterações cognitivas em pacientes idosos atendidos em ambulatório geral de clínica médica 2008. Tese. Departamento de Neurologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
Jan-Mar 2010

History

Received
19 Oct 2009
Accepted
05 Feb 2010

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License

[1] ¹
Jonker C, Geerlings MI, Schmand B. Are memory complaints predictive for dementia? A review of clinical and population-based studies. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2000;15:983-991.

[2] ²
Jungwirth S, Fischer P, Weissgram S, Kirchmeyr W, Bauer P, Tragl KH. Subjective memory complaints and objective memory impairment in the Vienna-Transdanube aging community. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004;52:263-268.

[3] ³
Riedel-Heller SG, Schork A, Matschinger H, Angermeyer MC. Subjective memory loss: a sign of cognitive impairment in the elderly? An overview of the status of research. Z Gerontol Geriatr 2000;33:9-16.

[4] ⁴
Jessen F, Feyen L, Freymann K, et al. Volume reduction of the entorhinal cortex in subjective memory impairment. Neurobiol Aging 2006;7:1751-1756.

[5] ⁵
Treves TA, Verchovsky R, Klimovitzky S, Korczyn AD. Incidence of dementia in patients with subjective memory complaints. Int Psychogeriatr 2005;17:265-273.

[6] ⁶
Gallassi R, Bisulli A, Oppi F, Poda R, Di Felice C. Subjective cognitive complaints, neuropsychological performance, affective and behavioural symptoms in non-demented patients. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2008;23:95-101.

[7] ⁷
Cook S, Marsiske M. Subjective memory beliefs and cognitive performance in normal and mildly impaired older adults. Aging Ment Health 2006;10:413-423.

[8] ⁸
Lam LC, Lui VW, Tam CW, Chiu HF. Subjective memory complaints in Chinese subjects with mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2005;20:876-882.

[9] ⁹
Minett TS, Da Silva RV, Ortiz KZ, Bertolucci PH. Subjective memory complaints in an elderly sample: a cross-sectional study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2008;23:9-54.

[10] ¹⁰
Frerichs RJ, Tuokko HA. Reliable change scores and their relation to perceived change in memory: implications for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2006;21:109-115.

[11] ¹¹
Flicker C, Ferris SH, Reisberg B. A longitudinal study of cognitive function in elderly persons with subjective memory complaints. J Am Geriatr Soc 1993;41: 1029-1032.

[12] ¹²
Olson E. Ethical issues in the nursing home. Mt Sinai J Med 1993;60:555-559.

[13] ¹³
Hayley DC, Cassel CK, Snyder L, Rudberg MA. Ethical and legal issues in nursing home care. Arch Intern Med 1996;156: 249-256.

[14] ¹⁴
Koepsell TD, Kurland BF, Harel O, Johnson EA, Zhou XH, Kukull WA. Education, cognitive function, and severity of neuropathology in Alzheimer disease. Neurology 2008;6:1732-1739.

[15] ¹⁵
Le Carret N, Auriacombe S, Letenneur L, Bergua V, Dartigues JF, Fabrigoule C. Influence of education on the pattern of cognitive deterioration in AD patients: the cognitive reserve hypothesis. Brain Cogn 2005;57:120-126.

[16] ¹⁶
Scarmeas N, Stern Y. Cognitive reserve and lifestyle. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2003;25:625-633.

[17] ¹⁷
Katzman R. Education and the prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Neurology 1993;43:13-20.

[18] ¹⁸
Ciconelli RM, Ferraz M B, Santos W, Meinão I, Marina RQ. Tradução para a Língua Portuguesa e validação do questionário genérico de avaliação de qualidade de vida SF-36 (Brasil SF-36). Rev Bras Reumatol 1999;39:143-150.

[19] ¹⁹
Jacinto AF. Alterações cognitivas em pacientes idosos atendidos em ambulatório geral de clínica médica 2008. Tese. Departamento de Neurologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo.

Brasil