Subjective Cognitive Decline As a Predictor of Future Cognitive Decline: a Systematic Review

Overview

Journal Dement Neuropsychol

Date 2020 Sep 25

PMID 32973979

Citations 35

Authors

Vladimir Anatolevich Parfenov

Vladimir Vladimirovich Zakharov

Anastasia Romanovna Kabaeva

Natalya Vasilyevna Vakhnina

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: To perform a systematic review of prospective longitudinal cohort studies that assessed the risk of MCI and dementia among people with SCD.

Methods: A search was carried out for all available peer-reviewed articles in English related to SCD in PubMed and PsychINFO databases from database initiation through January 2020. The keywords used for the search were 'subjective cognitive (or memory) impairment (or decline or complaints)'. Three authors separately determined the inclusion or exclusion of all articles retrieved for full-text evaluation.

Results: The chance of progression to dementia in the SCD group was 2.17 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.53‒3.07; p<0.05) compared to normal aging. Furthermore, the SCD group was 2.15 times more likely to progress to MCI than the group without SCD (95%CI 1.39‒3.30; p=0.005).

Conclusions: SCD might precede cognitive impairment, however, more detailed longitudinal studies should be conducted.

Citing Articles

Association of Subjective Cognitive Concerns With Performance on Mobile App-Based Cognitive Assessment in Cognitively Normal Older Adults: Observational Study.

Nester C, De Vito A, Prieto S, Kunicki Z, Strenger J, Harrington K JMIR Aging. 2025; 8:e64033.

PMID: 39903213 PMC: 11812482. DOI: 10.2196/64033.

Smoke-free hospitality environments and cognitive health: A population-based study in the United States.

Kalousova L Prev Med Rep. 2025; 50:102961.

PMID: 39877081 PMC: 11770490. DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102961.

Relationship between Anxiety Concerning Dementia Onset and Subjective Memory Impairment in Frail Older Individuals.

Suzuki Y, Sudo T, Mochizuki H, Shimoda N Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra. 2025; 15(1):1-7.

PMID: 39816218 PMC: 11731900. DOI: 10.1159/000542445.

Prevalence of Subjective Cognitive Decline and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Rural Versus Urban Population: Insights from India.

Roy D, Monisha S, Sandhya G, Sundarakumar J, Issac T Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2025; 28(1):150-152.

PMID: 39762151 PMC: 11892967. DOI: 10.4103/aian.aian_676_24.

Risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in U.S. honor cultures.

Harrington E, Bock J SSM Popul Health. 2024; 28:101732.

PMID: 39654552 PMC: 11626470. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101732.

References

van der Flier W, van Buchem M, Weverling-Rijnsburger A, Mutsaers E, Bollen E, Admiraal-Behloul F . Memory complaints in patients with normal cognition are associated with smaller hippocampal volumes. J Neurol. 2004; 251(6):671-5. DOI: 10.1007/s00415-004-0390-7. View

Tsutsumimoto K, Makizako H, Doi T, Hotta R, Nakakubo S, Makino K . Subjective Memory Complaints are Associated with Incident Dementia in Cognitively Intact Older People, but Not in Those with Cognitive Impairment: A 24-Month Prospective Cohort Study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2017; 25(6):607-616. DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2016.12.008. View

Pandya S, Clem M, Silva L, Woon F . Does mild cognitive impairment always lead to dementia? A review. J Neurol Sci. 2016; 369:57-62. DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2016.07.055. View

Petersen R, Smith G, Waring S, Ivnik R, Tangalos E, Kokmen E . Mild cognitive impairment: clinical characterization and outcome. Arch Neurol. 1999; 56(3):303-8. DOI: 10.1001/archneur.56.3.303. View

Jonker C, Geerlings M, Schmand B . Are memory complaints predictive for dementia? A review of clinical and population-based studies. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2000; 15(11):983-91. DOI: 10.1002/1099-1166(200011)15:11<983::aid-gps238>3.0.co;2-5. View

Prince M, Bryce R, Albanese E, Wimo A, Ribeiro W, Ferri C . The global prevalence of dementia: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Alzheimers Dement. 2013; 9(1):63-75.e2. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2012.11.007. View

Mitchell A, Beaumont H, Ferguson D, Yadegarfar M, Stubbs B . Risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in older people with subjective memory complaints: meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2014; 130(6):439-51. DOI: 10.1111/acps.12336. View

Abdulrab K, Heun R . Subjective Memory Impairment. A review of its definitions indicates the need for a comprehensive set of standardised and validated criteria. Eur Psychiatry. 2008; 23(5):321-30. DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2008.02.004. View

Jessen F, Wolfsgruber S, Wiese B, Bickel H, Mosch E, Kaduszkiewicz H . AD dementia risk in late MCI, in early MCI, and in subjective memory impairment. Alzheimers Dement. 2013; 10(1):76-83. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2012.09.017. View

10.

Sun Y, Yang F, Lin C, Han Y . Biochemical and neuroimaging studies in subjective cognitive decline: progress and perspectives. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2015; 21(10):768-75. PMC: 6493085. DOI: 10.1111/cns.12395. View

11.

Nunes T, Fragata I, Ribeiro F, Palma T, Maroco J, Cannas J . The outcome of elderly patients with cognitive complaints but normal neuropsychological tests. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010; 19(1):137-45. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2010-1210. View

12.

Mitchell A . The clinical significance of subjective memory complaints in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and dementia: a meta-analysis. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008; 23(11):1191-202. DOI: 10.1002/gps.2053. View

13.

Mewton L, Sachdev P, Anderson T, Sunderland M, Andrews G . Demographic, clinical, and lifestyle correlates of subjective memory complaints in the Australian population. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2013; 22(11):1222-32. DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2013.04.004. View

14.

Alegret M, Rodriguez O, Espinosa A, Ortega G, Sanabria A, Valero S . Concordance between Subjective and Objective Memory Impairment in Volunteer Subjects. J Alzheimers Dis. 2015; 48(4):1109-17. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-150594. View

15.

Visser P, Verhey F, Knol D, Scheltens P, Wahlund L, Freund-Levi Y . Prevalence and prognostic value of CSF markers of Alzheimer's disease pathology in patients with subjective cognitive impairment or mild cognitive impairment in the DESCRIPA study: a prospective cohort study. Lancet Neurol. 2009; 8(7):619-27. DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70139-5. View

16.

Fernandez-Blazquez M, Avila-Villanueva M, Maestu F, Medina M . Specific Features of Subjective Cognitive Decline Predict Faster Conversion to Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Alzheimers Dis. 2016; 52(1):271-81. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-150956. View

17.

Mistur R, Mosconi L, De Santi S, Guzman M, Li Y, Tsui W . Current Challenges for the Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease: Brain Imaging and CSF Studies. J Clin Neurol. 2010; 5(4):153-66. PMC: 2806537. DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2009.5.4.153. View

18.

Jessen F, Amariglio R, van Boxtel M, Breteler M, Ceccaldi M, Chetelat G . A conceptual framework for research on subjective cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2014; 10(6):844-52. PMC: 4317324. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.01.001. View

19.

Cooper C, Bebbington P, Lindesay J, Meltzer H, McManus S, Jenkins R . The meaning of reporting forgetfulness: a cross-sectional study of adults in the English 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Age Ageing. 2011; 40(6):711-7. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afr121. View

20.

Slavin M, Brodaty H, Kochan N, Crawford J, Trollor J, Draper B . Prevalence and predictors of “subjective cognitive complaints” in the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011; 18(8):701-10. DOI: 10.1097/jgp.0b013e3181df49fb. View