Self-reported memory complaints: implications from a longitudinal cohort with autopsies
Kryscio RJ, Abner EL, Cooper GE, Fardo DW, Jicha GA, Nelson PT, Smith CD, Van Eldik LJ et al.. Neurology, 2014-09-24
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective We assessed salience of subjective memory complaints (SMCs) by older individuals as a predictor of subsequent cognitive impairment while accounting for risk factors and eventual neuropathologies. Methods Subjects (n = 531) enrolled while cognitively intact at the University of Kentucky were asked annually if they perceived changes in memory since their last visit. A multistate model estimated when transition to impairment occurred while adjusting for intervening death. Risk factors affecting the timing and probability of an impairment were identified. The association between SMCs and Alzheimer-type neuropathology was assessed from autopsies (n = 243). Results SMCs were reported by more than half (55.7%) of the cohort, and were associated with increased risk of impairment (unadjusted odds ratio = 2.8, p Conclusion SMC reporters are at a higher risk of future cognitive impairment and have higher levels of Alzheimer-type brain pathology even when impairment does not occur. As potential harbingers of future cognitive decline, physicians should query and monitor SMCs from their older patients.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Kryscio, R. J., Abner, E. L., Cooper, G. E., Fardo, D. W., Jicha, G. A., Nelson, P. T., et al. (2014). Self-reported memory complaints: implications from a longitudinal cohort with autopsies. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000000856
Vancouver
Kryscio RJ, Abner EL, Cooper GE, Fardo DW, Jicha GA, Nelson PT, et al. Self-reported memory complaints: implications from a longitudinal cohort with autopsies. Neurology. 2014. doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000000856. PMID: 25253756.
BibTeX
@article{kryscio2014-25253756,
author = {Kryscio, R. J. and Abner, E. L. and Cooper, G. E. and Fardo, D. W. and Jicha, G. A. and Nelson, P. T. and Smith, C. D. and Van Eldik, L. J. and others},
title = {{Self-reported memory complaints: implications from a longitudinal cohort with autopsies}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0000000000000856},
pmid = {25253756},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000000856}
}
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Key findings
- Results SMCs were reported by more than half (55.7%) of the cohort, and were associated with increased risk of impairment (unadjusted odds ratio = 2.8, p < 0.0001).
Why it matters
In this cohort with autopsies, self-reported memory complaints were associated with increased risk of future cognitive impairment and with higher levels of Alzheimer-type brain pathology even when impairment did not occur. The authors suggest physicians should query and monitor such complaints, but this concerns prediction and monitoring, not treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Participants531
- Effect size55.7%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2014 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 531 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 190 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.6 citations a year over 14 year(s) since 2014 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 16.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 10 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 35 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Frederick A. Schmitt: h-index 83 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Kentucky: institution h-index 824 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 25253756) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000000856
- PubMed: 25253756
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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