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Subjective memory complaints and cognitive impairment in older people
Reid LM, Maclullich AM.. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders, 2006-10-16
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are common in older people and are often thought to indicate cognitive impairment. We reviewed research on the relationship between SMCs and (a) current cognitive function, (b) risk of future cognitive decline, and (c) depression and personality. SMCs were found to be inconsistently related to current cognitive impairment but were more strongly related to risk of future cognitive decline. However, SMCs were consistently related to depression and some personality traits, e.g. neuroticism. In conclusion, the determinants of SMCs are complex. The utility of SMCs in the diagnosis of pre-dementia states (e.g. mild cognitive impairment) is uncertain and requires further evaluation.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Reid, L. M., & Maclullich, A. M. (2006). Subjective memory complaints and cognitive impairment in older people. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders. https://doi.org/10.1159/000096295
Vancouver
Reid LM, Maclullich AM. Subjective memory complaints and cognitive impairment in older people. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders. 2006. doi:10.1159/000096295. PMID: 17047326.
BibTeX
@article{reid2006-17047326,
author = {Reid, L. M. and Maclullich, A. M.},
title = {{Subjective memory complaints and cognitive impairment in older people}},
journal = {Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1159/000096295},
pmid = {17047326},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1159/000096295}
}
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Key findings
- In conclusion, the determinants of SMCs are complex.
Why it matters
This review found that subjective memory complaints were inconsistently related to current cognitive impairment but more strongly related to risk of future cognitive decline, and were consistently related to depression and some personality traits such as neuroticism. The authors conclude that the utility of subjective memory complaints in diagnosing pre-dementia states such as mild cognitive impairment is uncertain and requires further evaluation.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders: journal h-index 149 (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 | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 636 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 28.9 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 16 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 70 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Alasdair M. J. MacLullich: h-index 62 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Edinburgh: institution h-index 1,378 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 17047326) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
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