Memory-related subjective cognitive symptoms in the adult population: prevalence and associated factors – results of the LIFE-Adult-Study

BMC Psychology

Tobias Luck¹  Anja Mehnert²  Andreas Hinz²  Christoph Engel³  Markus Loeffler³  Joachim Thiery⁴  Susanne Roehr⁵  Francisca S. Rodriguez⁵  Steffi G. Riedel-Heller⁵  Matthias L. Schroeter⁶  Arno Villringer⁶  A. Veronica Witte⁶ 

[1] Department of Economic and Social Sciences & Institute of Social Medicine, Rehabilitation Sciences and Healthcare Research (ISRV), University of Applied Sciences Nordhausen;Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig;Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE), University of Leipzig;Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics (ILM), University Hospital Leipzig;Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig;Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences;

关键词: Subjective cognitive symptoms;    Prevalence;    Subjective cognitive decline;    Memory;    Cognitive performance;    Cognitive function;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40359-018-0236-1

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Subjectively perceived memory problems (memory-related Subjective Cognitive Symptoms/SCS) can be an indicator of a pre-prodromal or prodromal stage of a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease. We therefore sought to provide detailed empirical information on memory-related SCS in the dementia-free adult population including information on prevalence rates, associated factors and others. Methods We studied 8834 participants (40–79 years) of the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study. Weighted prevalence rates with confidence intervals (95%-CI) were calculated. Associations of memory-related SCS with participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, physical and mental comorbidity, and cognitive performance (Verbal Fluency Test Animals, Trail-Making-Test, CERAD Wordlist tests) were analyzed. Results Prevalence of total memory-related SCS was 53.0% (95%-CI = 51.9–54.0): 26.0% (95%-CI = 25.1–27.0) of the population had a subtype without related concerns, 23.6% (95%-CI = 22.7–24.5) a subtype with some related concerns, and 3.3% (95%-CI = 2.9–3.7) a subtype with strong related concerns. Report of memory-related SCS was unrelated to participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, physical comorbidity (except history of stroke), depressive symptomatology, and anxiety. Adults with and without memory-related SCS showed no significant difference in cognitive performance. About one fifth (18.1%) of the participants with memory-related SCS stated that they did consult/want to consult a physician because of their experienced memory problems. Conclusions Memory-related SCS are very common and unspecific in the non-demented adult population aged 40–79 years. Nonetheless, a substantial proportion of this population has concerns related to experienced memory problems and/or seeks help. Already available information on additional features associated with a higher likelihood of developing dementia in people with SCS may help clinicians to decide who should be monitored more closely.

【 授权许可】

Unknown