title: Subjective memory complaints in the elderly: a sign of cognitive impairment?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjective memory complaints are an indicator for cognitive impairment screening.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Neurology, São PauloSP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Neurology, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandro Ferrari
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jacinto
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Neurology, São PauloSP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Neurology, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sonia Maria Dozzi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brucki
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Neurology, São PauloSP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Neurology, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia Sellitto
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Internal Medicine, São PauloSP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Internal Medicine, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Milton de
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: Arruda Martins
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Internal Medicine, São PauloSP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Internal Medicine, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nitrini
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires