Diagnostic Value of Subjective Memory Complaints Assessed with a Single Item in Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's Disease: Results of the DIAN Study.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the diagnostic value of subjective memory complaints (SMCs) assessed with a single item in a large cross-sectional cohort consisting of families with autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD) participating in the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN).


METHODS
The baseline sample of 183 mutation carriers (MCs) and 117 noncarriers (NCs) was divided according to Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale into preclinical (CDR 0; MCs: n = 107; NCs: n = 109), early symptomatic (CDR 0.5; MCs: n = 48; NCs: n = 8), and dementia stage (CDR ≥ 1; MCs: n = 28; NCs: n = 0). These groups were subdivided by the presence or absence of SMCs.


RESULTS
At CDR 0, SMCs were present in 12.1% of MCs and 9.2% of NCs (P = 0.6). At CDR 0.5, SMCs were present in 66.7% of MCs and 62.5% of NCs (P = 1.0). At CDR ≥ 1, SMCs were present in 96.4% of MCs. SMCs in MCs were significantly associated with CDR, logical memory scores, Geriatric Depression Scale, education, and estimated years to onset.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study shows that SMCs assessed by a single-item scale have no diagnostic value to identify preclinical ADAD in asymptomatic individuals. These results demonstrate the need of further improvement of SMC measures that should be examined in large clinical trials.
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, Germany ; Section for Dementia Research, Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany ; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Christoph
C
Laske
Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA 6027, Australia ; School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
Hamid R
HR
Sohrabi
Division of Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.
Mateusz S
MS
Jasielec
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Stephan
S
Müller
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Niklas K
NK
Koehler
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, Germany ; Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Susanne
S
Gräber
Department of Nuclear Medicine & TUM Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany.
Stefan
S
Förster
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
Alexander
A
Drzezga
Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, 81377 München, Germany ; Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 81377 München, Germany.
Felix
F
Mueller-Sarnowski
Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, 81377 München, Germany ; Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 81377 München, Germany.
Adrian
A
Danek
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, Germany ; Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Mathias
M
Jucker
Department of Neurology, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.
Randall J
RJ
Bateman
Department of Neurology, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.
Virginia
V
Buckles
Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
Andrew J
AJ
Saykin
Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA 6027, Australia ; School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
Ralph N
RN
Martins
Department of Neurology, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.
John C
JC
Morris
Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.
Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Dian
D000328:Adult; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation