Clinical Manifestations

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is an emerging risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias.
• Standardized assessment and management of SCD are limited, despite increasing prevalence in memory clinics.
• A novel taxonomy categorizes SCD into subgroups based on psychological factors, comorbidities, or no apparent cause.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate a proposed taxonomy for Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) in independent cohorts.
• To assess the clinical applicability of the SCD taxonomy for risk stratification.
• To guide personalized management strategies for individuals experiencing cognitive decline.

Main Methods:

• The SCD taxonomy was initially tested on a small cohort and is now being applied to a larger retrospective cohort.
• An automated algorithm was developed to classify individuals into SCD subgroups based on clinical data.
• Validation involves comparing automated classification with expert judgment, followed by subgroup analysis and longitudinal cognitive trajectory assessment.

Main Results:

• Preliminary findings indicate the taxonomy effectively stratifies individuals based on psychological factors and comorbidities.
• Significant differences in demographics, clinical features, and cognitive trajectories were observed across SCD subgroups.
• The subgroup with no apparent cause showed faster cognitive decline and an AD-like biomarker profile.

Conclusions:

• The SCD taxonomy shows promise as a clinical tool for risk stratification and personalized interventions.
• Validation in larger cohorts is crucial for integrating the taxonomy into routine clinical practice.
• This approach addresses the growing need for tailored management of individuals with SCD.