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Biological Measures of Human Experience across the Lifespan pp 275–299Cite as

Subjective Memory Complaints and Objective Memory Performance

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Abstract

Memory complaints are common in both middle-aged and older adults. Given the frequency of subjective memory complaints (SMC), there is great interest in their relationship to objective memory performance as well as current and/or future diagnosis of memory disorders. On the assumption that SMC can serve as a proxy for objective memory decline, SMC are a core feature of the diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment. Data supporting this assumption are mixed, with some studies demonstrating that individuals with SMC perform more poorly on objective memory tests than those without complaints, whereas other studies demonstrate that SMC are correlated only with depression and other forms of psychological distress. Some data suggest that SMC may be related to attention and other cognitive functions and not to memory performance per se. Brain imaging studies demonstrate a relationship between SMC and the structure and function of brain regions that are critical for memory. The relationship between SMC and objective memory performance differs by age as well as types of participants studied. In this chapter, we review the literature examining the relationship between SMC and objective cognitive performance in healthy middle-aged and older adults, as well as the literature examining SMC as a risk factor for future memory disorders. We describe the differing methodologies employed for measuring both SMC and objective memory performance, examine factors that bear upon the relationship between SMC and objective memory performance, and explore possible reasons for discrepant findings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Miriam T. Weber

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Pauline M. Maki

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  1. Miriam T. Weber
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  1. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    Lynnette Leidy Sievert

  2. University of Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii, USA

    Daniel E. Brown

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Weber, M.T., Maki, P.M. (2016). Subjective Memory Complaints and Objective Memory Performance. In: Sievert, L., Brown, D. (eds) Biological Measures of Human Experience across the Lifespan. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44103-0_13

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