Subjective Memory Complaints Are an Important Surrogate for Objective Cognitive Performance in African Americans

PURPOSE

Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) have been shown to be associated with lower neuropsychological test scores cross-sectionally. However, it remains unclear whether such findings hold true for African American (AA) older adults.

METHODS

Baseline visit data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database collected from September 2005 to March 2018 were used. Generalized linear mixed models specifying binomial distributions were used to examine how neuropsychological test scores affect the likelihood of reporting SMCs.

PATIENTS

Inclusion criteria were participants who reported AA as their primary race, 60 to 80 years of age, were cognitively unimpaired, and had a Mini-Mental Status Examination score ≥26. A total of 1021 older AA adults without missing data met the criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 258 participants reported a SMC. SMCs were more likely with lower scores on measures of episodic memory and processing; however, SMCs were also more likely with higher scores on a measure of working memory. Working memory appeared to mediate reporting of SMC among participants with lower episodic memory scores.

DISCUSSION

These findings demonstrate that SMCs are associated with lower scores on objective neuropsychological measures among older AAs. Additional work is needed to determine whether SMCs are further associated with a risk for clinical transition to mild cognitive impairment or dementia among AA older adults.

Memory and Confusion Complaints in Visually Impaired Older Adults: An Understudied Aspect of Well-Being

Objective: To determine the prevalence of cognitive (memory or confusion) complaints in older adults with visual impairment (VI). Method: We assessed the relationship between VI (corrected visual acuity [VA] < 20/40) and self-reported confusion or problems with memory among participants aged 60 years to 85 years in the 1999-2006 cycles of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 5,795). Prevalence estimates of cognitive complaints were calculated using Current Population Surveys. Results: Memory/confusion complaints were reported in 22% of the VI group and 11% of the no VI group (p < .001). In individuals aged ≥ 80 years, 30% of those with VI reported cognitive complaints, as compared with 19% with no VI (p = .003). In fully adjusted models, individuals with VI were more likely (OR = 1.3, p = .049) to report cognitive complaints as compared with those without VI. Conclusion: Subjective reports of memory or confusion are highly prevalent in older individuals with VI.

Modeling Active Aging and Explicit Memory: An Empirical Study

The rapid growth of the population of older adults and their concomitant psychological status and health needs have captured the attention of researchers and health professionals. To help fill the void of literature available to social workers interested in mental health promotion and aging, the authors provide a model for active aging that uses psychosocial variables. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships among the latent variables of the state of explicit memory, the perception of social resources, depression, and the perception of quality of life in a sample of 184 older adults. The results suggest that explicit memory is not a direct indicator of the perception of quality of life, but it could be considered an indirect indicator as it is positively correlated with perception of social resources and negatively correlated with depression. These last two variables influenced the perception of quality of life directly, the former positively and the latter negatively. The main outcome suggests that the perception of social support improves explicit memory and quality of life and reduces depression in active older adults. The findings also suggest that gerontological professionals should design memory training programs, improve available social resources, and offer environments with opportunities to exercise memory.

Subjective forgetfulness is associated with lower quality of life in middle-aged and young-old individuals: a 9-year follow-up in older participants from the Maastricht Aging Study

OBJECTIVES

Many people regard themselves as being forgetful. They may be hindered by or worried about this subjective forgetfulness in daily life. The first aim of the present study was to determine whether perceived forgetfulness in healthy older adults is related to a lower quality of life. The second objective was to assess whether the association between perceived forgetfulness and quality of life changes over a 9-year follow-up period.

METHOD

A group of 412 participants in the longitudinal Maastricht Aging Study, aged 54 years or older, were interviewed and tested at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 years. Four proxy measures of quality of life were studied; satisfaction with life, mental well-being, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

RESULTS

Results showed that subjective forgetfulness was associated with a lower quality of life. In addition, in individuals considering themselves forgetful, a significant increase was found in symptoms of anxiety, compared to those who had no perceived forgetfulness. The relation between perceived forgetfulness and decreased satisfaction with life was stronger in younger (54-69 years) than in older participants (70-91 years).

CONCLUSION

The observation that perceived forgetfulness and reduced quality of life are related and that this relation persists over time demonstrates the relevance of subjective forgetfulness for daily life functioning, particularly in relatively young subjects.

An evaluation of the use of a website and telephonic information service as public education about forgetfulness

There is increasing interest in telehealth as a potential new approach for healthcare delivery. To investigate whether telehealth is suitable to inform the older population about forgetfulness, we designed and compared two types of telehealth: Memory Website and the Memory Phone. The aim of this study was to analyze characteristics of the individuals who are interested in the Memory Phone and the Memory Website, to investigate the nature of the information in which the users were interested, and to evaluate the usefulness of the services. Participants were asked to answer several questions before and after visiting the main information menu of the telehealth facilities. Characteristics are given for all participants who used the facilities. In the evaluation period of 3 months, more individuals used the Memory Website (n = 2,631) than the Memory Phone (n = 228). The two services were used by different populations. Phone users were significantly older, more often female, and perceived themselves more often as forgetful. In the specific group of nonprofessional older individuals, general information about memory was more requested by Phone users compared with Website users (67% vs. 41%). Website users more often requested strategies and tips than Phone users (66% vs. 34%). The Phone and the Website were both considered useful. Overall, the Memory Website and the Memory Phone are two different types of evidence-based telehealth interventions, which are relevant for different populations, and are useful in informing the older population about forgetfulness and aging.

The effect of perceived forgetfulness on quality of life in older adults; a qualitative review

BACKGROUND

Approximately 50% of older individuals perceive themselves as being forgetful.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review is to get an overview of previous research on the relation between perceived forgetfulness (in the absence of objective memory deficit) and quality of life in older individuals. Findings in previous research might be a starting point for further research and possible future interventions.

METHODS

Scientific papers that investigated the relation between subjective memory complaints and quality of life were searched. Two independent raters scored the articles on their methodology. The methodological quality was taken into account when conclusions were drawn.

RESULTS

The literature search resulted in 682 articles, of which five studies met the inclusion criteria. Although the five studies differed in their methodology, the findings of the methodologically adequate studies show a relation between memory complaints and a diminished quality of life in the elderly.

CONCLUSIONS

The negative impact that subjective memory complaints can have on quality of life makes it important to acknowledge forgetfulness as a serious issue in the life of older individuals. However, more research is needed to explore the relationship between subjective memory complaints and quality of life, also with regard to the influence of depression and objective memory performance.