Open AccessCognitive performance before and after the onset of subjective cognitive decline in old age
Author(s) -
Koppara Alexander,
Wagner Michael,
Lange Carolin,
Ernst Annette,
Wiese Birgitt,
König HansHelmut,
Brettschneider Christian,
RiedelHeller Steffi,
Luppa Melanie,
Weyerer Siegfried,
Werle Jochen,
Bickel Horst,
Mösch Edelgard,
Pentzek Michael,
Fuchs Angela,
Wolfsgruber Steffen,
Beauducel André,
Scherer Martin,
Maier Wolfgang,
Jessen Frank
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia: diagnosis, assessment and disease monitoring
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.497
H-Index - 37
ISSN - 2352-8729
DOI - 10.1016/j.dadm.2015.02.005
Subject(s) - cognitive decline , verbal fluency test , cognition , dementia , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , recall , psychology , audiology , verbal memory , cognitive test , medicine , neuropsychology , disease , psychiatry , cognitive psychology
Background Our objectives were (1) to test the association between the report of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and prospective objective cognitive performance in high age individuals and (2) to study the course of longitudinal cognitive performance before and after the first report of SCD. Methods Cognitively normal elderly participants of the German Study on Ageing, Cognition, and Dementia study (N = 2330) with SCD (subjective decline in memory with and without associated concerns) and without SCD at baseline were assessed over 8 years with regard to immediate and delayed verbal recall, verbal fluency, working memory, and global cognition. Baseline performance and cognitive trajectories were compared between groups. In addition, cognitive trajectories before and after the initial report of SCD (incident SCD) were modelled in those without SCD at baseline. Results Baseline performance in the SCD group was lower and declined more steeply in immediate and delayed verbal recall than in the control group (no SCD at baseline). This effect was more pronounced in the SCD group with concerns. Incident SCD was preceded by decline in immediate and delayed memory and word fluency. Conclusions SCD predicts future memory decline. Incident SCD is related to previous cognitive decline. The latter finding supports the concept of SCD indicating first subtle decline in cognitive performance that characterizes preclinical Alzheimer's disease.