Personal Memory Function in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Subjective Memory Complaints: Results from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle (AIBL) Study of Ageing

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Buckley, Rachel F.^{a; b; *} | Saling, Michael M.^{a; b} | Irish, Muireann^c | Ames, David^{d; e} | Rowe, Christopher C.^{f; g} | Lautenschlager, Nicola T.^{e; h} | Maruff, Paul^{b; i} | Macaulay, S. Lance^j | Martins, Ralph N.^{k; l; m} | Masters, Colin L.^b | Rainey-Smith, Stephanie R.^{k; l} | Rembach, Alan^b | Savage, Gregⁿ | Szoeke, Cassandra^d | Ellis, Kathryn A.^{b; e} | the Australian Imaging Biomarkers and Lifestyle Study of Ageing (AIBL) Research Group

Affiliations: [a] Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia | [b] The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia | [c] Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia | [d] National Aging Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia | [e] The Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, St. Vincent's Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia | [f] Department of Nuclear Medicine and Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia | [g] The Department of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia | [h] School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences and West Australian Centre for Health & Ageing, University of Western Australia, WA, Australia | [i] Cogstate Ltd, Melbourne, VIC, Australia | [j] Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization Preventative Health Flagship, Parkville, Australia | [k] Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, WA, Australia | [l] Sir James McCusker Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit (Hollywood Private Hospital), Perth, WA, Australia | [m] School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia | [n] ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Rachel F. Buckley, B(Sc) Hons, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Redmond Barry Building, University of Melbourne, 3010 VIC, Australia. Tel.: +61 03 8344 4297; Fax: +61 03 9347 6618; E-mail: rachel.buckley@unimelb.edu.au.

Abstract: Background:Autobiographical memory (ABM) refers to the recollection of individual experiences, while personal semantic memory (PSM) refers to personally relevant, but shared, facts. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is routinely diagnosed with the aid of neuropsychological tests, which do not tap the ABM and PSM domains. Objective:We aimed to characterize the nature of ABM and PSM retrieval in cognitively healthy (HC) memory complainers, non-memory complainers, and MCI participants, and to investigate the relationship between neuropsychological tests and personal memory. Methods:Gender- and education-matched participants (HC = 80 and MCI = 43) completed the Episodic ABM Interview (EAMI) and a battery of neuropsychological tests. Results:ABM and PSM did not differ between complainers and non-complainers, but were poorer in MCI participants, after accounting for age and depressive symptomatology. There were significant associations between personal memory and objective memory measures were found in MCI participants, but standard cognitive measures were more sensitive to MCI. Conclusion:Personal memory was compromised in MCI, reflected by lower scores on the EAMI. Memory complaining, assessed by current approaches, did not have an impact on personal memory. Standard subjective questionnaires might not reflect the sorts of concerns that bring individuals to clinical attention. Understanding personal memory function in the elderly may aid in the development of a more sensitive measure of subjective memory concerns.

Keywords: Aging, Alzheimer dementia, autobiographical memory, cognitive function, episodic memory, mild cognitive impairment, subjective cognitive decline, subjective memory complaint

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-131820

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 551-561, 2014