Michael Rönnlund1, Anna Sundström1,2, Rolf Adolfsson3, Lars-Göran Nilsson4,5. 1. Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. 2. Centre for Demographic and Ageing Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. 3. Division of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. 4. Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. 5. Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between self-reported memory failures and incident dementia in individuals aged 60 and older. DESIGN: Longitudinal, community based. SETTING: Betula Prospective Cohort Study, a population-based study in Umeå, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with a mean age of 71.5 ± 8.8 (range 60-90) (N = 1,547). MEASUREMENTS: Participants rated the frequency of everyday memory failures using the 16-item Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) and underwent objective memory testing at baseline. Participant self-reports of complaints of poor memory by family and friends were evaluated. Dementia status was followed-up for 10 to 12 years. RESULTS: Over the study period, 225 participants developed dementia (132 with Alzheimer's disease (AD)). In Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for demographic factors, PRMQz-scores predicted incident dementia (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.21 for all-cause dementia; HR = 1.25 for AD, Ps < .01). The significant associations remained when depressive symptoms and objective memory performance were adjusted for, when low performers on objective memory (≥1 standard deviations below the age group mean) were excluded, and in analyses with delayed entry (survival time ≥ 5 years). Similar patterns were observed for the prospective and retrospective subscales, although including how often participants self-reported that others complained about their poor memory eliminated the association between PRMQ scores and dementia and itself emerged as a significant predictor. CONCLUSION: Self-reported memory failure predicted future dementia or AD independent of objective memory performance. Subjective reports of complaints by family and friends appear to be an even more-important indicator of preclinical impairments, and physicians should not ignore them, even in the absence of objective memory deficits.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between self-reported memory failures and incident dementia in individuals aged 60 and older. DESIGN: Longitudinal, community based. SETTING: Betula Prospective Cohort Study, a population-based study in Umeå, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with a mean age of 71.5 ± 8.8 (range 60-90) (N = 1,547). MEASUREMENTS: Participants rated the frequency of everyday memory failures using the 16-item Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) and underwent objective memory testing at baseline. Participant self-reports of complaints of poor memory by family and friends were evaluated. Dementia status was followed-up for 10 to 12 years. RESULTS: Over the study period, 225 participants developed dementia (132 with Alzheimer's disease (AD)). In Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for demographic factors, PRMQz-scores predicted incident dementia (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.21 for all-cause dementia; HR = 1.25 for AD, Ps < .01). The significant associations remained when depressive symptoms and objective memory performance were adjusted for, when low performers on objective memory (≥1 standard deviations below the age group mean) were excluded, and in analyses with delayed entry (survival time ≥ 5 years). Similar patterns were observed for the prospective and retrospective subscales, although including how often participants self-reported that others complained about their poor memory eliminated the association between PRMQ scores and dementia and itself emerged as a significant predictor. CONCLUSION: Self-reported memory failure predicted future dementia or AD independent of objective memory performance. Subjective reports of complaints by family and friends appear to be an even more-important indicator of preclinical impairments, and physicians should not ignore them, even in the absence of objective memory deficits.
Authors: Michiko Yamada; Reid D Landes; Ayumi Hida; Kayoko Ishihara; Kevin R Krull Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-02-01 Impact factor: 3.390