Background: Subjective memory impairment (SMI), defined by memory complaints with normal
age-, gender- and education-adjusted cognitive performance, is a frequent phenomenon
in elderly people. According to longitudinal studies, SMI is probably a predictor for future mild
cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. However, there has been no objective neuropsychological
test for evaluating SMI, and previous studies relied solely on patients’ subjective complaints.
Thus, our goal was to make an objective standard that is useful in distinguishing SMI from normal
aging as well as MCI by considering prospective memory (PM) as a higher level of memory.
Methods: The study participants included seven healthy controls, 25 individuals with SMI and
eight patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI). The inclusion criteria for SMI were 1) over 55 yr, 2) sustained
subjective memory complaints, 3) normal general cognition, 4) no abnormality (within-1SD)
in neuropsychological battery and 5) no depression. aMCI was followed by Pitersen’s criteria. To
assess prospective memory, the Cambridge Behaviour Prospective Memory Test, which consisted
of four time-based and four event-based tasks, was performed. Subsequently, scores from Korean
Mini-mental Status Examination (K-MMSE), the 20 min delayed recall Seoul verbal learning
test (SVLT), and individual task scores of PM and total PM scores were compared among each
group. Results: There were no significant group differences in age, education, sex, K-MMSE score
and time-based PM among the three groups. However, SVLT scores and total PM scores showed
a significant decline in the aMCI group, unlike that for the SMI and control groups. Moreover, eventbased
PM score was significantly decreased stepwise in both SMI and aMCI groups. Conclusions:
These findings suggest that PM, especially for event-based tasks, is sensitive for detecting the
earliest cognitive changes associated with SMI, and PM tasks seem to be more susceptible to
the early cognitive decline than retrospective memory tasks. As PM is a sensitive predictor for
future cognitive decline, SMI may be a first manifestation of future dementia in the elderly regardless
of depression. Future research will help determine the clinical usefulness of PM tasks.
Background: Subjective memory impairment (SMI), defined by memory complaints with normal
age-, gender- and education-adjusted cognitive performance, is a frequent phenomenon
in elderly people. According to longitudinal studies, SMI is probably a predictor for future mild
cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. However, there has been no objective neuropsychological
test for evaluating SMI, and previous studies relied solely on patients’ subjective complaints.
Thus, our goal was to make an objective standard that is useful in distinguishing SMI from normal
aging as well as MCI by considering prospective memory (PM) as a higher level of memory.
Methods: The study participants included seven healthy controls, 25 individuals with SMI and
eight patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI). The inclusion criteria for SMI were 1) over 55 yr, 2) sustained
subjective memory complaints, 3) normal general cognition, 4) no abnormality (within-1SD)
in neuropsychological battery and 5) no depression. aMCI was followed by Pitersen’s criteria. To
assess prospective memory, the Cambridge Behaviour Prospective Memory Test, which consisted
of four time-based and four event-based tasks, was performed. Subsequently, scores from Korean
Mini-mental Status Examination (K-MMSE), the 20 min delayed recall Seoul verbal learning
test (SVLT), and individual task scores of PM and total PM scores were compared among each
group. Results: There were no significant group differences in age, education, sex, K-MMSE score
and time-based PM among the three groups. However, SVLT scores and total PM scores showed
a significant decline in the aMCI group, unlike that for the SMI and control groups. Moreover, eventbased
PM score was significantly decreased stepwise in both SMI and aMCI groups. Conclusions:
These findings suggest that PM, especially for event-based tasks, is sensitive for detecting the
earliest cognitive changes associated with SMI, and PM tasks seem to be more susceptible to
the early cognitive decline than retrospective memory tasks. As PM is a sensitive predictor for
future cognitive decline, SMI may be a first manifestation of future dementia in the elderly regardless
of depression. Future research will help determine the clinical usefulness of PM tasks.