FACTORS INFLUENCING SUBJECTIVE MEMORY COMPLAINTS AMONG COMMUNITY DWELLING ELDERLY IN URBAN COMMUNITY

Abstract Background There are many factors influence subjective memory complaints including neurocognitive disorder, mood disorder and anxiety disorder. Aims & Objectives We examined the factors influencing subjective memory complaints among community dwelling elderly in urban area. Method The subjects of this research were 160 community-dwelling elderly people without dementia and major depressive disorder. The questionnaires regarding the socio-demographic characteristics were conducted by each person. They include Korean version of Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaires (SMCQ), Korean version of Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K) and Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE). Subjective memory complaints were defined as above 4 points of SMCQ. Results 39.38% of the subjects had subjective memory complaints. There were significant associations between subjective memory complaints and SGDS-K (p<0.001), physical illness (p=0.001), but there was no association with K-MMSE (p=0.383). Discussion & Conclusion There is a discrepancy between subjective memory complaints and actual cognitive impairments. This discrepancy suggests that the depressive disorders including minor depressive disorder and subsyndromal depression, might play a role in the subjective memory complaints rather than actual cognitive impairments in community-dwelling elderly people. Therefore, the treatments for the depressive disorders should be considered in dealing with the subjective memory complaints.