Subjective cognitive complaints, neuropsychological performance, affective and behavioural symptoms in non-demented patients.
OBJECTIVE
Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) have been previously investigated to establish whether they are risk factors for dementia, but no clear-cut conclusions have emerged. In this study non-demented patients with SCC were studied and the neuropsychological findings, affective and behavioural aspects and parameters with the highest correct classifications in discriminating patients who had only SCC but no objective clinical and neuropsychological impairment, i.e. no cognitive impairment (NCI) patients and those with objective neuropsychological deficits, namely patients with mild cognitive (MCI) were analyzed.


METHODS
Consecutive non-demented outpatients with SCC were enrolled of over 9 months and examined using neuropsychological tests and scales for depression, anxiety and behaviour. Clinical criteria and neuropsychological test results were used to classify patients into groups of NCI, MCI and subtypes of MCI.


RESULTS
Ninety-two patients with SCC were included; 49 of them had objective deficits (MCI patients), whereas 43 were without any clinical and cognitive impairment (NCI patients). These patients had lower age, higher education and better general cognitive indices than MCI patients who had higher caregiver distress, depression and irritability. The combination of a battery for mental deterioration and for behavioural memory assessment were the most discriminative in differentiating the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
An objective cognitive impairment, reaching the criteria for a MCI diagnosis, was present in almost half of patients having SCC. MCI patients have more behavioural disturbances than NCI subjects. SCC should not be underestimated and appropriate neuropsychological assessment is required to reassure subjects with normal results and to identify patients with MCI.
Gallassi
Roberto
R
Centre for the Neurological Study of Cerebral Aging, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy. roberto.gallassi@unibo.it
Bisulli
Antonietta
A
Oppi
Federico
F
Poda
Roberto
R
Di Felice
Carla
C
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology