Personal memory function in mild cognitive impairment and subjective memory complaints: results from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle (AIBL) Study of Ageing.
BACKGROUND
Autobiographical memory (ABM) refers to the recollection of individual experiences, while personal semantic memory (PSM) refers to personally relevant, but shared, facts. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is routinely diagnosed with the aid of neuropsychological tests, which do not tap the ABM and PSM domains.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to characterize the nature of ABM and PSM retrieval in cognitively healthy (HC) memory complainers, non-memory complainers, and MCI participants, and to investigate the relationship between neuropsychological tests and personal memory.


METHODS
Gender- and education-matched participants (HC = 80 and MCI = 43) completed the Episodic ABM Interview (EAMI) and a battery of neuropsychological tests.


RESULTS
ABM and PSM did not differ between complainers and non-complainers, but were poorer in MCI participants, after accounting for age and depressive symptomatology. There were significant associations between personal memory and objective memory measures were found in MCI participants, but standard cognitive measures were more sensitive to MCI.


CONCLUSIONS
Personal memory was compromised in MCI, reflected by lower scores on the EAMI. Memory complaining, assessed by current approaches, did not have an impact on personal memory. Standard subjective questionnaires might not reflect the sorts of concerns that bring individuals to clinical attention. Understanding personal memory function in the elderly may aid in the development of a more sensitive measure of subjective memory concerns.
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Rachel F
RF
Buckley
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Michael M
MM
Saling
Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Muireann
M
Irish
National Aging Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia The Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, St. Vincent's Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
David
D
Ames
Department of Nuclear Medicine and Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia The Department of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Christopher C
CC
Rowe
The Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, St. Vincent's Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences and West Australian Centre for Health & Ageing, University of Western Australia, WA, Australia.
Nicola T
NT
Lautenschlager
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Cogstate Ltd, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Paul
P
Maruff
Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization Preventative Health Flagship, Parkville, Australia.
S Lance
SL
Macaulay
Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, WA, Australia Sir James McCusker Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit (Hollywood Private Hospital), Perth, WA, Australia School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
Ralph N
RN
Martins
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Colin L
CL
Masters
Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, WA, Australia Sir James McCusker Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit (Hollywood Private Hospital), Perth, WA, Australia.
Stephanie R
SR
Rainey-Smith
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Alan
A
Rembach
ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Greg
G
Savage
National Aging Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Cassandra
C
Szoeke
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia The Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, St. Vincent's Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Kathryn A
KA
Ellis
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
D015415:Biomarkers
Aging; Alzheimer dementia; autobiographical memory; cognitive function; episodic memory; mild cognitive impairment; subjective cognitive decline; subjective memory complaint