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Memory complaints in a community sample aged 60–64 years: associations with cognitive functioning, psychiatric symptoms, medical conditions, APOE genotype, hippocampus and amygdala volumes, and white-matter hyperintensities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2004

A. F. JORM
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
P. BUTTERWORTH
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
K. J. ANSTEY
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
H. CHRISTENSEN
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
S. EASTEAL
Affiliation:
Centre for Bioinformation Science and John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
J. MALLER
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
K. A. MATHER
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
R. I. TURAKULOV
Affiliation:
Centre for Bioinformation Science and John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
W. WEN
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, and Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
P. SACHDEV
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, and Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Background. Previous research has found that depression is a major cause of memory complaints. However, there is evidence that memory complaints also weakly predict cognitive decline and dementia. The present study examined a range of possible determinants of memory complaints, covering psychiatric and personality factors, medical history, cognitive test performance, and biological risk factors for dementia (APOE genotype, hippocampus and amygdala volumes, and white-matter hyperintensities).

Method. A community survey was carried out with 2546 persons aged 60–64 years living in Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia. Participants were asked about memory problems which interfered with daily life and whether medical help had been sought. A randomly selected subsample of 476 persons was given a brain MRI scan.

Results. Participants with memory complaints were found to have poorer memory test performance, more depression and anxiety symptoms, have higher scores on personality traits involving negative affect, and to have worse physical health. Multivariate analyses showed that measures of cognitive performance did not make a unique contribution to the prediction of memory complaints above that of the other categories of predictors. Those with memory complaints did not differ on any of the biological risk factors for dementia.

Conclusion. In a community sample aged 60–64 years, memory complaints were most closely related to psychiatric symptoms, personality characteristics and poor physical health. There was no evidence of brain changes indicating early dementia.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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