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IC‐P‐145: Subjective Memory Complaints are Associated With Brain Activation Supporting Successful Memory Encoding
Author(s) -
Hayes Jessica M.,
Tang Lingfei,
Ofen Noa,
Damoiseaux Jessica S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2016.06.175
Subject(s) - forgetting , psychology , precuneus , audiology , posterior cingulate , memory impairment , encoding (memory) , episodic memory , working memory , hippocampus , cognition , motivated forgetting , cognitive impairment , neuroscience , medicine , cognitive psychology
with future cognitive decline. In SCI patients, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) associated changes may already occur before cognitive decline becomes evident. Small vessel disease (SVD) is also related to cognitive decline. However little is known about SVD MRI markers in SCI. We investigate which MRI markers of AD and SVD are associated with severity of SCI. Methods:67 healthy older adults (25 SCI and 42 controls) were included in the study (table 1). Severity of subjective memory complaints was assessed using the frequency of forgetting subscale of the Memory Functioning Questionnaire (Gilewski et al., Psychol Aging, 1990). All participants underwent 3T MRI with T1-w, T2-w, T2*-w and FLAIR scans. AD MRI markers were: whole brain gray and white matter volume and hippocampal volume. SVD MRI markers were: white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume and number of microbleeds. To assess objective cognitive function we administered a neuropsychological test battery (table 2) and depression and personality questionnaires. Results: We found lower scores, i.e. more complaints, on frequency of forgetting in SCI than controls (table 1). We found no significant differences in cognitive function between groups (table 2). Of the AD and SVDMRI markers tested, WMH volume was significantly associated with frequency of forgetting; r1⁄4-0.281, p1⁄40.027, adjusted for age, sex, nation and depression, indicating that increased severity of WMH volume is related to more severe memory complaints (figure 1). Other MRI markers were not associated with frequency of forgetting. Examination of the association between MRI markers and SCI participants versus controls (per MRI marker and for all MRI markers together), showed a trend level group effect on WMH volume (respectively p1⁄40.079 and p1⁄40.057 (table 3)) adjusted for age, sex, nation and depression, suggesting larger WMH volumes in SCI participants. Other MRI markers did not show any group differences. Conclusions: Our results indicate that severity of memory complaints is related to greater WMHs in healthy older adults, independent of objective cognitive function and depressive symptoms. WMHs are a prominent marker for SVD, which appears to be an important factor contributing to SCI and possibly future cognitive decline.