title: Utility of the cognitive difficulties scale and association with objective test performance.
abstract: Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are commonly noted in memory disorder clinic patients. The present study sought to examine the presence of SMCs on the Cognitive Difficulties Scale (CDS) in older adults and to examine the relationship between CDS scores and current cognitive ability. Participants were 50 adults diagnosed with possible/probable Alzheimer's disease (AD), 100 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 84 cognitively healthy controls (HCs). Participants completed a neuropsychological evaluation and the self- and informant-reported CDS. Results indicated that greater self-reported SMCs were noted in the group with MCI ; however, self-reported CDS scores were associated with cognition in HCs only. Informant-reported CDS scores were predictive of cognitive ability in the diagnosis of MCI but not AD, indicating the importance of obtaining caregiver report in the evaluation of memory disorders. As AD is a neurodegenerative disorder, SMCs lose value in determining degree of cognitive impairment as disease stage increases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University Newark, Newark, OH, USA buelow.11@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Melissa T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Buelow
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Program, Rhode Island Hospital, RI, USA Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tremont
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Frakey
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.affiliation: Rhode Island Hospital Alzheimer's Disease & Memory Disorders Center, Providence, RI, USA Department of Neurology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ott
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; cognition; dementia; mild cognitive impairment; subjective memory impairment