Towards characterizing subjective cognitive decline in older adults

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Psychology

Background:

• Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a perceived cognitive decline in older adults without objective impairment.
• SCD may indicate a preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• Existing questionnaires and tests may not fully capture the complexity of SCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the complex characteristics of SCD using focus group discussions (FGDs).
• To gain deeper insights into the lived experiences of individuals with SCD.
• To identify information not captured by traditional assessment methods.

Main Methods:

• Study involved telephone interviews, neuropsychological assessments, and questionnaires.
• Four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 16 older adults experiencing SCD.
• Qualitative content analysis with an inductive-deductive code system was used for FGD analysis.

Main Results:

• Participants reported cognitive decline across all domains, particularly in memory and speech (word-finding difficulties).
• Neuropsychological assessments did not reveal objective cognitive impairment.
• Participants expressed significant concerns about SCD and experienced difficulties with social participation.

Conclusions:

• SCD may represent more than age-related changes, but symptoms are often underestimated due to lack of objective impairment.
• FGDs provide crucial insights beyond standard tests, highlighting symptom experiences, coping strategies, and concerns.
• Understanding SCD is vital for developing early detection and intervention strategies to delay AD progression and improve quality of life.