Subjective memory complaints in the elderly: a sign of cognitive impairment?

• Main Authors: Alessandro Ferrari Jacinto, Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki, Claudia Sellitto Porto, Milton de Arruda Martins, Ricardo Nitrini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Faculdade de Medicina / USP
• Series: Clinics
• Subjects: General Practice; Primary Health Care; Cognitive Disorders; Age-Related Memory Disorder
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-59322014000300194&lng=en&tlng=en

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive impairment in the elderly is frequently overlooked by general practitioners. The use of subjective memory complaints as a sign of cognitive impairment by the general practice is controversial. METHODS: Elderly individuals (N = 248) were asked whether they had memory complaints and underwent a cognitive impairment screening. Subjects classified as exhibiting “probable cognitive impairment” underwent a complete cognitive evaluation, and the final diagnoses were established by expert consensus. RESULTS: A total of 147 patients presented with subjective memory complaints, and 43 were further classified as demented or “cognitively impaired not demented”. Subjective memory complaints presented a sensitivity of 100% and a negative predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSION: Subjective memory complaints are an indicator for cognitive impairment screening.