Subjective memory complaints in the elderly: a sign of cognitive impairment?

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive impairment in the elderly is frequently overlooked by general practitioners. The use of subjective memory complaints as a sign of cognitive impairment by the general practice is controversial. METHODS: Elderly individuals (N = 248) were asked whether they had memory complaints...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Jacinto, Alessandro Ferrari, Brucki, Sonia Maria Dozzi, Porto, Claudia Sellitto, de Arruda Martins, Milton, Nitrini, Ricardo
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo 2014
Materias:
Clinical Science
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3935127/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24626946
http://dx.doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2014(03)09
Descripción
Sumario:OBJECTIVES: Cognitive impairment in the elderly is frequently overlooked by general practitioners. The use of subjective memory complaints as a sign of cognitive impairment by the general practice is controversial. METHODS: Elderly individuals (N = 248) were asked whether they had memory complaints and underwent a cognitive impairment screening. Subjects classified as exhibiting “probable cognitive impairment” underwent a complete cognitive evaluation, and the final diagnoses were established by expert consensus. RESULTS: A total of 147 patients presented with subjective memory complaints, and 43 were further classified as demented or “cognitively impaired not demented”. Subjective memory complaints presented a sensitivity of 100% and a negative predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSION: Subjective memory complaints are an indicator for cognitive impairment screening.

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