Subjective memory complaints as a predictor of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

While there is a multitude of studies on mild cognitive impairment (MCI; more than 80,000 articles), subjective memory complaints (SMC) have received less attention as a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD; less than 2000 articles). In this perspective review article, we argue that SMC should also be considered as another risk factor for the development of AD, and perhaps a pre-MCI condition. This recognition of SMC could help clinicians to identify individuals at risk of developing dementia and could provide protective treatment for them. Accordingly, in this perspective article, we review key studies that outline the nature of SMC, discuss how SMC is measured, explore SMC in MCI, introduce some approaches to SMC treatment, and we discuss future directions for SMC research. Overall, we argue that, like MCI, there should be more research on SMC as a risk factor for developing AD. Consequentially, we aim to highlight the need for further research on SMC and the condition’s role as a potential neuroprotector against AD (e.g., early-stage marker).

Effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on neuropsychiatric symptoms and psychological well‐being on people with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment: A meta‐analysis

“…4 Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represent significant risks for the development of dementia, affecting up to 25% of individuals over 50 years. [5][6][7][8] Despite variations in the degree of cognitive impairment, these cohorts experience comparable levels of distress, leading to a cluster of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) with functional, role, and social impacts. Specifically, impairments in attention, inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility can hinder adaptive responses to stressful environmental demands, resulting in difficulties in emotional regulation.…”

“…Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represent significant risks for the development of dementia, affecting up to 25% of individuals over 50 years 5–8 . Despite variations in the degree of cognitive impairment, these cohorts experience comparable levels of distress, leading to a cluster of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) with functional, role, and social impacts.…”

The A-to-Z factors associated with cognitive impairment. Results of the DeCo study

“…SMC is defined as the subjective perception of a decline cognitive abilities compared to previous levels of functioning in individuals with normal cognition. Evidence suggests that SMC may represent the first preclinical manifestation of AD (Warren et al, 2022 ). Nowadays, There is a growing awareness about AD, leading to an increasing number of individuals expressing concerns about a reduction in their cognition function (Jessen et al, 2020 ).…”

Hippocampal Volume and Episodic Associative Memory Identify Memory Risk in Subjective Cognitive Decline Individuals in the CIMA-Q Cohort, Regardless of Cognitive Reserve Level and APOE4 Status

“…Both identify non-demented older adults who complain about their memory, but people with MCI perform below normative values on standardized neuropsychological tests, whereas those with SCD perform within normal range [1,2]. SCD has gained considerable recent attention because memory complaint is believed to represent one of the earliest symptomatic manifestations of memory impairment in the prodrome of AD [3]. Thus, it is hypothesized that a proportion of people meeting criteria for SCD are in a pre-clinical phase of AD, before the onset of significant cognitive symptoms.…”