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Are subjective cognitive complaints a risk factor for dementia?

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Abstract

The objective is to evaluate the prognosis of subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) patients during 4-year follow-up. A prospective study on 92 SCC patients investigating their cognitive, affective and behavioural aspects. SCC patients were classified as having no objective cognitive impairment (NOCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or subtypes of MCI. Results: 43 patients were found to have NOCI and 49 MCI. During the follow-up, 45.5% of NOCI patients remained unchanged, 13.9% were diagnosed as MCI and only one progressed to dementia. Of the MCI patients, 32.3% remained stable, 18.4% became demented and 4% reverted to NOCI. Visual attention, behavioural memory, long-term verbal memory, apathy and caregiver distress, provided independent predictors of progression to dementia.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially funded by an educational grant no. 2006.3251 from the Fondazione Carisbo, Bologna, Italy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bologna, via U. Foscolo 7, 40123, Bologna, Italy

    Roberto Gallassi, Federico Oppi, Roberto Poda, Simona Scortichini, Michelangelo Stanzani Maserati & Luisa Sambati

  2. Department of Clinical Nutrition, ULSS n. 18, Rovigo, Italy

    Gianfranco Marano

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  1. Roberto Gallassi
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  2. Federico Oppi
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  3. Roberto Poda
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  7. Luisa Sambati
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Correspondence to Roberto Gallassi.

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Gallassi, R., Oppi, F., Poda, R. et al. Are subjective cognitive complaints a risk factor for dementia?. Neurol Sci 31, 327–336 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-010-0224-6

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