BACKGROUND: Subjective memory complaints are common in the elderly. Although memory complaints are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in persons with cognitive impairment as well as in persons with normal cognition, they are commonly considered of less importance than objective cognitive measures. We hypothesized that the clinical relevance of subjective memory complaints might vary with educational background. METHODS: The study was performed within the Rotterdam Study, a prospective population-based cohort study among 7983 persons 55 years and older. Subjective memory complaints and level of education were assessed in the baseline interview (1990 to 1993). During a mean follow-up of 9.0 years we identified 568 incident Alzheimer's disease patients. We estimated the association between subjective memory complaints and risk of dementia by means of Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: The association between subjective memory complaints and risk of Alzheimer's disease varied across levels of education. The risk of Alzheimer's disease associated with subjective memory complaints was higher in highly educated persons (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-5.49) than in persons with a low education (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.15-2.05) (P value for interaction, .02). In highly educated persons without objective cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination score, 29 or 30) the risk of Alzheimer's disease was highest (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.76-5.02). CONCLUSIONS: Especially in persons with a high level of education who still perform well on formal cognitive tests, subjective memory complaints might be an important first sign of imminent Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND: Subjective memory complaints are common in the elderly. Although memory complaints are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in persons with cognitive impairment as well as in persons with normal cognition, they are commonly considered of less importance than objective cognitive measures. We hypothesized that the clinical relevance of subjective memory complaints might vary with educational background. METHODS: The study was performed within the Rotterdam Study, a prospective population-based cohort study among 7983 persons 55 years and older. Subjective memory complaints and level of education were assessed in the baseline interview (1990 to 1993). During a mean follow-up of 9.0 years we identified 568 incident Alzheimer's diseasepatients. We estimated the association between subjective memory complaints and risk of dementia by means of Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: The association between subjective memory complaints and risk of Alzheimer's disease varied across levels of education. The risk of Alzheimer's disease associated with subjective memory complaints was higher in highly educated persons (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-5.49) than in persons with a low education (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.15-2.05) (P value for interaction, .02). In highly educated persons without objective cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination score, 29 or 30) the risk of Alzheimer's disease was highest (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.76-5.02). CONCLUSIONS: Especially in persons with a high level of education who still perform well on formal cognitive tests, subjective memory complaints might be an important first sign of imminent Alzheimer's disease.
Authors: Nan Wang; Gilles Allali; Chandrasekharan Kesavadas; Mohan L Noone; Vayyattu G Pradeep; Helena M Blumen; Joe Verghese Journal: J Alzheimers Dis Date: 2016 Impact factor: 4.472
Authors: Laura A Rabin; Colette M Smart; Paul K Crane; Rebecca E Amariglio; Lorin M Berman; Mercé Boada; Rachel F Buckley; Gaël Chételat; Bruno Dubois; Kathryn A Ellis; Katherine A Gifford; Angela L Jefferson; Frank Jessen; Mindy J Katz; Richard B Lipton; Tobias Luck; Paul Maruff; Michelle M Mielke; José Luis Molinuevo; Farnia Naeem; Audrey Perrotin; Ronald C Petersen; Lorena Rami; Barry Reisberg; Dorene M Rentz; Steffi G Riedel-Heller; Shannon L Risacher; Octavio Rodriguez; Perminder S Sachdev; Andrew J Saykin; Melissa J Slavin; Beth E Snitz; Reisa A Sperling; Caroline Tandetnik; Wiesje M van der Flier; Michael Wagner; Steffen Wolfsgruber; Sietske A M Sikkes Journal: J Alzheimers Dis Date: 2015-09-24 Impact factor: 4.472
Authors: Rebecca E Amariglio; Elizabeth C Mormino; Alison C Pietras; Gad A Marshall; Patrizia Vannini; Keith A Johnson; Reisa A Sperling; Dorene M Rentz Journal: Neurology Date: 2015-06-05 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Frank Jessen; Rebecca E Amariglio; Martin van Boxtel; Monique Breteler; Mathieu Ceccaldi; Gaël Chételat; Bruno Dubois; Carole Dufouil; Kathryn A Ellis; Wiesje M van der Flier; Lidia Glodzik; Argonde C van Harten; Mony J de Leon; Pauline McHugh; Michelle M Mielke; Jose Luis Molinuevo; Lisa Mosconi; Ricardo S Osorio; Audrey Perrotin; Ronald C Petersen; Laura A Rabin; Lorena Rami; Barry Reisberg; Dorene M Rentz; Perminder S Sachdev; Vincent de la Sayette; Andrew J Saykin; Philip Scheltens; Melanie B Shulman; Melissa J Slavin; Reisa A Sperling; Robert Stewart; Olga Uspenskaya; Bruno Vellas; Pieter Jelle Visser; Michael Wagner Journal: Alzheimers Dement Date: 2014-05-03 Impact factor: 21.566