Do subjective memory complaints predict cognitive dysfunction over time? A six-year follow-up of the Maastricht Aging Study

• Published in: International journal of geriatric psychiatry Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 432 - 441
• Main Authors: Mol, Martine E. M., van Boxtel, Martin. P. J., Willems, Dick, Jolles, Jelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.05.2006; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aged; Anxiety; Biological and medical sciences; cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Depression; Educational Status; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatric psychiatry; Geriatrics; Humans; Intervention; Male; Medical sciences; Memory; Memory Disorders - etiology; Memory Disorders - psychology; Memory Disorders - rehabilitation; Mental Recall; Middle age; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Neuropsychological Tests; Older people; Prognosis; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychoanalysis; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; speed of information processing; subjective memory complaints; Netherlands; Human; Memory disorder; Senescence; Cognitive disorder; subjective memory complaints; Self evaluation; Memory; Ageing; Prediction; Cognition; Time; Velocity; speed of information processing; Follow up study; Information processing; Predictive factor; Memory complaint; intervention; Elderly; Public health; Geriatrics
• ISSN: 0885-6230; 1099-1166
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.1487

Background Middle‐aged and older people often worry that their perceived diminishing memory function may indicate incipient dementia. Objectives The present study addresses questions regarding subjective memory complaints as a predictor of lower performance on cognitive tasks. Also, in participants with subjective memory complaints it was investigated, whether trying to keep mentally active improved memory function. Characteristics of the participants who were and were not interested in an intervention to decrease worries and to improve memory in daily life were determined. Methods Data were obtained from a large longitudinal study: the Maastricht Aging Study, involving 557 participants aged 55 to 85 years. Follow‐up measurement was performed after 6 years. Outcome variables were simple, complex and general information processing speed and immediate and delayed recall. Results At baseline, forgetfulness was associated with a slower general information processing and delayed recall. At the six‐year follow‐up, being forgetful was not associated with a significant change in cognitive performance. Taking steps to remain cognitively active was not a predictor of better performance on cognitive tasks at baseline or at the six‐year follow‐up. Conclusion Being forgetful might be an indicator of slower general information processing speed and delayed recall at baseline but does not predict cognitive change over 6 years in older adults. However, the effects are rather small and cannot directly be generalized to applications in clinical settings. Other factors, such as depression and anxiety might also underlie the cause of the forgetfulness. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.