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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Memory Enhancement
Published on: September 18, 2021
Subjective memory complaints in elders: depression, anxiety, or cognitive decline?
Y Balash1, M Mordechovich, H Shabtai
1Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. yacbal@tasmc.health.gov.il
Objectives:
To study the association of subjective memory complaints (SMC) with affective state and cognitive performance in elders.
Materials And Methods:
We studied community dwelling elderly persons with normal physical examination. Participants completed questionnaires regarding memory difficulties and lifestyle habits, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Depending on their answers to the question about their memory condition, participants were divided into complainers and non-complainers and to five groups according to their MMSE scores. These data have been compared to objective cognitive performance according to Mindstreams - a computerized neuropsychological battery. A logistic regression was performed to evaluate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for those factors, which were associated with SMС (dependent variable).
Results:
Of 636 consecutive subjects (61% females), 507 participants (79.7%) had SMС. Presence of SMC was inversely correlated with MMSE scores, (r = -0.108; P for trend = 0.007). GDS and STAI scores were higher among subjects with SMC (OR = 1.23: CI 95%: 1.1-1.36 and OR = 1.03: CI 95%: 1.01-1.07, respectively). SMC did not correlate with objective cognitive performance measured by Mindstreams.
Conclusions:
Subjective memory complaints are associated with sub-syndromal depression and anxiety in healthy cognitively normal elders.
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