Subjective memory complaints in the elderly may be related to factors other than cognitive deficit

Prevalence of subjective memory complaints (SMC) in elderly community dwellers (ECD) ranges from 25 to 50%. Some controversy exists over the association between SMC and cognitive status. Objective We investigated whether a correlation in cognitive performance existed between two different groups according to SMC. Methods The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Dementia Rating Scale-Mattis (DRS-Mattis) were applied to two groups: ECD (n=14) with SMC and residents (n=14) of a long-term care facility (LTCF) without SMC. Results The median age in the ECD group was 81.0 years, and in the LTCF group was 75.0 years. There was a statistically significant difference (p=0.048) between these groups regarding age. Concerning schooling (1-8 or ≥9 years), there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p=0.638). No statistically significant difference between the two groups was found for scores on the cognitive tests. Conclusion SMC might be related to extrinsic factors other than insipient cognitive decline.