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. 2014 Dec;29(8):755-61.
doi: 10.1177/1533317514539032. Epub 2014 Jun 13.

Utility of the cognitive difficulties scale and association with objective test performance

Melissa T Buelow  1 , Geoffrey Tremont  2 , Laura L Frakey  3 , Janet Grace  3 , Brian R Ott  4
Affiliations

Utility of the cognitive difficulties scale and association with objective test performance

Melissa T Buelow et al. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2014 Dec.

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.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; cognition; dementia; mild cognitive impairment; subjective memory impairment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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