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Updated: May 2, 2026

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Published on: September 18, 2021
Subjective memory complaints in the elderly: a sign of cognitive impairment?
Alessandro Ferrari Jacinto1, Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki1, Claudia Sellitto Porto1
1Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Neurology, São PauloSP, Brazil, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Neurology, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
Objectives:
Cognitive impairment in the elderly is frequently overlooked by general practitioners. The use of subjective memory complaints as a sign of cognitive impairment by the general practice is controversial.
Methods:
Elderly individuals (N = 248) were asked whether they had memory complaints and underwent a cognitive impairment screening. Subjects classified as exhibiting "probable cognitive impairment" underwent a complete cognitive evaluation, and the final diagnoses were established by expert consensus.
Results:
A total of 147 patients presented with subjective memory complaints, and 43 were further classified as demented or "cognitively impaired not demented". Subjective memory complaints presented a sensitivity of 100% and a negative predictive value of 100%.
Conclusion:
Subjective memory complaints are an indicator for cognitive impairment screening.
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