The relationship between memory complaints, activity and perceived health status

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cognitive Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Subjective memory complaints (SMC) may indicate mild cognitive impairment and progression to dementia.
• Understanding factors associated with SMC is crucial for early intervention in aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between physical activity (PA), cognitive activity (CA), social activity (SA), and perceived health status (HS) with SMC.
• To examine these relationships in middle-aged and older adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the MIDUS II study (N=3030, mean age 55.99).
• Employed hierarchical multiple regression analysis with SMC as the dependent variable.
• Included PA, CA, SA, and HS as independent variables, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

• SMC showed strong relationships with PA, CA, and HS.
• Perceived health status (HS) had the most significant association with SMC.
• Interaction effects between activity types and HS were not significant.
• Age-related differences in results were observed.

Conclusions:

• Higher levels of cognitive activity, physical activity, and better perceived health are associated with lower frequency of subjective memory complaints.
• These lifestyle factors are important targets for interventions aimed at reducing memory concerns in aging adults.