Clinical Manifestations

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neurology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a common concern in older adults, often reported by the individual or an informant.
• Informant-reported SCD may indicate a higher risk for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD).
• DocMemo is a digital platform offering cognitive screening and resources for individuals with cognitive concerns and their informants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare self-referred and informant-referred individuals on the DocMemo platform.
• To investigate the association between referral type and established dementia risk factors.

Main Methods:

• Users were categorized as self- or informant-referred based on a cognitive complaint questionnaire.
• Multivariate logistic regression analyzed the association between referral type and various demographic, cognitive, psychological, health, and lifestyle factors.
• Analyses were adjusted for multiple comparisons.

Main Results:

• Informant-referred users (2,554) had higher cognitive complaints and were older than self-referred users (10,489).
• Factors associated with informant referral included higher cognitive complaints, older age, and anxiety.
• Factors associated with self-referral included being female, higher education, sleep disorders, smoking, and willingness to participate in research.

Conclusions:

• Informant-referred users present with higher Alzheimer's disease risk profiles, consistent with modifiable dementia risk factors.
• Informant reports are valuable for identifying individuals at higher risk, suggesting a vulnerable population.
• Recognizing these differences is key for optimizing screening and providing timely support to at-risk individuals.