(PS1-D85) Informing Intervention Approaches for Subjective Cognitive Decline by Investigating the Role of Cognitive Concerns in Psychological and Cognitive Domains

One in 9 adults report Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD)--a perceived decline in cognitive ability in the absence of dementia. SCD may be a clinical precursor of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), particularly among older adults who notice specific declines in memory. Anxiety and depression are also strong predictors of memory complaints within older nondemented adults. The relationship between SCD and cognitive ability in the context of depression and anxiety is not well understood, which complicates decisions about intervention for patients reporting SCD who do not meet criteria for MCI. Recently, the SCD Initiative Working Group developed research criteria for SCD that are associated with increased likelihood of preclinical dementia. Given this increased risk, cognitive ability may be more strongly associated with cognitive complaints than psychological factors among individuals who meet research criteria for SCD. Thus, we aimed to examine the relationship among psychological factors (depression and anxiety), memory performance, and cognitive complaints in older adults meeting criteria for SCD.
 

Preliminary correlational analyses were conducted with data from an ongoing study of older adults with SCD. The current sample includes individuals (n = 50, 78% female) aged 60 years and older (M = 70.83, SD = 7.24). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Memory Index Score (MIS) was used to assess memory ability. Number of cognitive complaints were assessed with the SCD Questionnaire (SCD-Q). Depression and anxiety symptoms were measured with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) short forms.
 

Pearson correlations were computed to assess the relationship between MIS and SCD-Q, MIS and PROMIS anxiety, and MIS and PROMIS depression scores. There was a significant negative relationship found between memory performance and number of cognitive complaints, associating lower memory performance with higher cognitive complaints, r(42) = -.31, p = .04. Conversely, we did not find a significant correlation between memory performance and anxiety r(41) = .00, p = .99 or depression r(41) = -.20, p = .20. While not statistically significant, there was a small correlation between cognitive complaints and depression, r(46) = .28, p = .05. Relationships of the variables of interest with the total MoCA score and tests of executive function will also be reported.
 

Clarifying the associations among cognitive and psychological factors can inform future studies to identify treatment targets in order to develop more efficient and effective treatment approaches for older adults experiencing psychological and cognitive concerns. Overall, an improved understanding of precursors for MCI will aid clinicians to better care for their older adult patients.