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Absence of a relationship between subjective memory complaint and objective memory impairment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI): is it time to abandon subjective memory complaint as an MCI diagnostic criterion?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2012

Megan Elizabeth Lenehan ,
Shannon Zofia Klekociuk  and
Mathew James Summers
Megan Elizabeth Lenehan
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
Shannon Zofia Klekociuk
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
Mathew James Summers*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Mathew J. Summers, School of Psychology, Locked Bag 1342, Launceston, Tasmania 7250, Australia. Phone: +61 3 6324 3266; Fax: +61 3 6324 3168. Email: Mathew.Summers@utas.edu.au.
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Abstract

Background: Subjective memory complaints are a requirement in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as they are thought to indicate a decline in objective memory performance. However, recent research suggests that the relationship between subjective memory complaint and objective memory impairment is less clear. Thus, it is possible that many people without subjective memory complaints who develop Alzheimer's disease are precluded from a diagnosis of MCI.

Methods: The present study examined the relationship between subjective memory complaint assessed using the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ) and objective memory impairment assessed using standard neuropsychological measures in cases of amnestic MCI (n = 48), non-amnestic MCI (n = 27), and unimpaired healthy participants (n = 64).

Results: Correlational and regression analyses indicated that subjective memory complaints displayed a poor relationship with objective memory performance. A subsequent discriminant function analysis indicated that subjective memory complaints failed to improve the diagnostic accuracy of MCI and resulted in increased rates of false negative and false positive diagnoses.

Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that a diagnostic criterion of subjective memory complaint reduces the accuracy of MCI diagnosis, resulting in an elevated rate of false positive and false negative diagnoses. The results of this study in conjunction with recent research indicate that a criterion of subjective memory complaint should be discarded from emerging diagnostic criteria for MCI.

Keywords

subjectiveobjectivememory impairmentmild cognitive impairmentdiagnosis
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Issue 9 , September 2012 , pp. 1505 - 1514
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

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