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Differences in quantitative methods for measuring subjective cognitive decline – results from a prospective memory clinic study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 April 2016

Asmus Vogel ,
Lise Cronberg Salem ,
Birgitte Bo Andersen  and
Gunhild Waldemar
Asmus Vogel*
Affiliation:
Danish Dementia Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
Lise Cronberg Salem
Affiliation:
Danish Dementia Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
Birgitte Bo Andersen
Affiliation:
Danish Dementia Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
Gunhild Waldemar
Affiliation:
Danish Dementia Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Asmus Vogel, PhD, Danish Dementia Research Center, Rigshospitalet section 6911, 9 Blegdamsvej, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. Phone: +45 3545 2982. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background:

Cognitive complaints occur frequently in elderly people and may be a risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline. Results from studies on subjective cognitive decline are difficult to compare due to variability in assessment methods, and little is known about how different methods influence reports of cognitive decline.

Methods:

The Subjective Memory Complaints Scale (SMC) and The Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q) were applied in 121 mixed memory clinic patients with mild cognitive symptoms (mean MMSE = 26.8, SD 2.7). The scales were applied independently and raters were blinded to results from the other scale. Scales were not used for diagnostic classification. Cognitive performances and depressive symptoms were also rated. We studied the association between the two measures and investigated the scales’ relation to depressive symptoms, age, and cognitive status.

Results:

SMC and MAC-Q were significantly associated (r = 0.44, N = 121, p = 0.015) and both scales had a wide range of scores. In this mixed cohort of patients, younger age was associated with higher SMC scores. There were no significant correlations between cognitive test performances and scales measuring subjective decline. Depression scores were significantly correlated to both scales measuring subjective decline. Linear regression models showed that age did not have a significant contribution to the variance in subjective memory beyond that of depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

Measures for subjective cognitive decline are not interchangeable when used in memory clinics and the application of different scales in previous studies is an important factor as to why studies show variability in the association between subjective cognitive decline and background data and/or clinical results. Careful consideration should be taken as to which questions are relevant and have validity when operationalizing subjective cognitive decline.

Keywords

subjective cognitive declinesubjective memory complaintsassessmentdementiamild cognitive impairment
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 28 , Issue 9 , September 2016 , pp. 1513 - 1520
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

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