Memory-related subjective cognitive symptoms in the adult population: prevalence and associated factors – results of the LIFE-Adult-Study
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Date
2018-05-21
Open Access Location
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central Ltd
Rights
(c) 2018 The Author/s
CC BY 4.0
CC BY 4.0
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.
Description
Keywords
Cognitive function, Cognitive performance, Comorbidity, Depression, Memory, Prevalence, Risk factor, Subjective cognitive decline, Subjective cognitive symptoms, Adult, Aged, Cognitive Dysfunction, Cohort Studies, Diagnostic Self Evaluation, Female, Germany, Humans, Male, Memory Disorders, Middle Aged, Prevalence
Citation
Luck T, Roehr S, Rodriguez FS, Schroeter ML, Witte AV, Hinz A, Mehnert A, Engel C, Loeffler M, Thiery J, Villringer A, Riedel-Heller SG. (2018). Memory-related subjective cognitive symptoms in the adult population: prevalence and associated factors - results of the LIFE-Adult-Study.. BMC Psychol. 6. 1. (pp. 23-).