Subjective memory complaints of patients and caregivers and their association with sociodemographic and clinical factors in patients with neurocognitive disorders from Colombia

TL;DR

This study explores how memory complaints from patients and caregivers in Colombia relate to cognitive and social factors in neurocognitive disorders.

Contribution

The study introduces the discrepancy between patient and caregiver memory complaints (SMCΔ) as a potential marker for disease awareness.

Findings

Caregiver-reported complaints (CMC) were higher and more linked to cognitive and functional impairments.

Patient-reported SMC was associated with neurological comorbidities and higher education.

Psychiatric symptoms were linked to both CMC and SMCΔ, with education and cognitive scores explaining SMCΔ.

Abstract

Subjective memory complaints (SMC) are common in older adults and may signal cognitive decline. We examined the clinical correlates of patient-reported SMC and caregiver-reported complaints (CMC) and introduced their discrepancy (SMCΔ) as a potential marker of anosognosia or caregiver overestimation. We carried out a cross-sectional study and systematically assessed cognitive, functional, and behavioral domains of 6,708 individuals from a Latin American memory clinic. CMC scores were significantly higher than SMC and were more strongly associated with cognitive and functional impairments, while SMC was linked to neurological comorbidities and higher education. Psychiatric symptoms were associated with both CMC and SMCΔ. Lower cognitive scores predicted greater CMC, and SMCΔ was best explained by education, MoCA, and NPI-Q. Our findings suggest that SMC, CMC, and their discrepancy capture distinct aspects of disease awareness and caregiver perception, supporting the clinical utility of SMCΔ in early detection and assessment of neurodegenerative conditions.

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