Self-Perceived Memory Complaints Predict Progression to Alzheimer Disease. The LADIS Study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Verdelho, Ana^{a; *} | Madureira, Sofia^a | Moleiro, Carla^b | Santos, Catarina O.^a | Ferro, José M.^a | Erkinjuntti, Timo^c | Poggesi, Anna^d | Pantoni, Leonardo^d | Fazekas, Franz^e | Scheltens, Philip^f | Waldemar, Gunhild^g | Wallin, Anders^h | Inzitari, Domenico^d | and on behalf of the LADIS Study

Affiliations: [a] Neurosciences Department, Lisbon University, Santa Maria Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal | [b] Lisbon University Institute - ISCTE, Psychology Department, Lisbon, Portugal | [c] Memory Research Unit, Clinical Neurosciences Department, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland | [d] Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy | [e] Neurology and MRI Institute Department, Karl Franzens University Graz, Graz, Austria | [f] Neurology Department, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands | [g] Memory Disorders Research Unit, Department Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark | [h] Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Ana Verdelho, Neurosciences Department, Lisbon University, Santa Maria Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal. Tel./Fax: +00351217957474; E-mail: averdelho@fm.ul.pt.

Abstract: Memory complaints are frequent in the elderly but its implications in cognition over time remain a controversial issue. Our objective was to evaluate the risk of self perceived memory complaints in the evolution for future dementia. The LADIS (Leukoaraiosis and Disability) prospective multinational European study evaluates the impact of white matter changes (WMC) on the transition of independent elderly subjects into disability. Independent elderly were enrolled due to the presence of WMC. Subjects were evaluated yearly during 3 years with a comprehensive clinical protocol and a neuropsychological battery. Dementia and subtypes of dementia were classified. Self perceived memory complaints in independent elderly were collected during the interview. MRI was performed at entry and at the end of the study. 639 subjects were included (74.1 ± 5 years old, 55% women, 9.6 ± 3.8 years of schooling). At end of follow-up, 90 patients were demented (vascular dementia, 54; Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD with vascular component, 34; frontotemporal dementia, 2). Using Cox regression analysis, we found that self perceived memory complaints were a strong predictor of AD and AD with vascular component during the follow-up (β = 2.7, p = 0.008; HR = 15.5, CI 95% [2.04, 117.6]), independently of other confounders, namely depressive symptoms, WMC severity, medial temporal lobe atrophy, and global cognition status at baseline. Self perceived memory complaints did not predict vascular dementia. In the LADIS study, self perceived memory complaints predicted AD but not vascular dementia in elderly subjects with WMC living independently.

Keywords: Aging, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, memory complaints, white matter changes

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2011-110494

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 491-498, 2011