SCD

Question 1

SCD

Answer 1

Subjective cognitive decline: Subjective complaints about cognitive functioning that’s perceived to get worse, without any hard evidence that it is (objective scores within normal range)

• Not a form of abnormal ageing
• No impairments in IADL
• Relatively new and possible precursor of MCI / dementia.

Question 2

Diagnosis and prev

Answer 2

about 25% of 60+ people, gets higher in 75+

Diagnostic crit;
- Subjective report of persistent decline relative to prior levels
- Decline not due to psychiatric or other conditions, medication, substance use

SCD plus: positive biomarkers of Alzheimers disease, e.g. (not normal ageing)
- Volume loss brain
- Amyloid plaques

Question 2

SCD variants

Answer 2

Reversible; No objective cognitive decline and perceived to improve again

Stable, non-reversible: No objective cognitive decline but stable subjective

Progressive: Gets worse and also objective decline to level of impairment/dementia (early stage)

Question 3

Difficulties in diagnosis

Answer 3

No objective measures

Difficult to distinguish from normal ageing

Based on self-report and there’s no typical complain or gold standard for SCD

To improve:
- Tests needed to assess subjective complaints
- should attempt to assess everyday functioning
- Time sensitive questions to increase reliability
- assessing domains relevant to the person
- Informant report

Question 4

Progression risk

Answer 4

In a meta-analysis people w SCD were 2-50% more likely to develop dementia.

Lots of variance;
- Shorter sampling window lowered the estimates
- Recruitment location (eg memory clinic)
- New condition, varies a lot still in definition/terminology
- Memory often used as main criteria (may be prev in AD but not in other dementias).

Question 5

Risk factors

Answer 5

Worry/concern instead of complaints

Cognitive complaints other then episodic memory

Positive biomarkers

Lower MMSE score (less reserve)

Higher age