Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Memory Complaints by Elderly May Indicate Serious Cognitive Problems
The more memory complaints senior citizens have, the worse off their cognitive functioning
Sept. 15,
2011 Family members and physicians need to be aware that what may at first seem to be the memory lapses in senior citizens that come with
aging, may actually be cognitive problems that are far more serious, according to findings published today in the Journal of the American
Geriatrics Society.
Complaints about memory lapses, such as having trouble remembering recent events, may warrant a further cognitive
assessment, the researchers say.
Because the number of U.S. adults aged 65 years and older is projected to nearly double over the next two decades, the
incidence of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is also expected to rise.
In response, clinicians are incorporating cognitive screening tests as part of annual wellness visits for older people,
and researchers are looking for simple ways to identify older individuals who may benefit from additional cognitive evaluations.
To see if certain memory complaints might be linked with potentially serious problems related to memory and thinking,
investigators telephoned 16,964 older women (average age of 74 years) and asked them seven questions related to memory complaints, followed by
various questions that assessed cognitive function.
Investigators found, in general, that, the more memory complaints older individuals have, the worse off is their
cognitive functioning.
However, not all complaints are related to cognitive decline.
For example, a "yes" answer to the question "Do you have much more trouble remembering things from one second to the
next?" did not relate to cognitive impairment but was associated with normal aging.
By contrast, a "yes" to the question "Do you have trouble finding your way around familiar streets?" was highly
associated with cognitive impairment.
"These findings suggest that clinicians may need to differentiate between the types of memory complaints their patients
have, as some are likely due to normal aging, whereas others are worrisome for possible cognitive decline," said Dr. Rebecca Amariglio of
Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, one of the study authors.
This will be particularly important as the incidence of Alzheimer's disease increases and therapies for the disease
become available.
