A – 128 Subjective and Objective Prospective Memory in Everyday Functioning in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract Objective Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to execute an intended action in the future and is utilized in everyday life. In the evaluation of PM, subjective reports from patients and informants may be used. The present study examines the ability of subjective PM reports to predict objective PM performance. Further, we examine both of their roles in everyday functioning. Method Participants included 58 healthy older controls and 52 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Subjective PM was measured using participant and informant ratings on the Prospective Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ). Objective PM was measured using a novel task in which participants were to request a pill after each test in a neuropsychological battery, with one pill requested after a memory test and two pills after a non-memory test. “Simple” PM was measured as the number of correct pill requests. “Complex” PM was measured as the correct number of pills requested. The Everyday Cognition Scales (Ecog) was used to measure everyday functioning. Results The healthy aging group outperformed the MCI group in complex PM, but not simple PM. Subjective PRMQ reports predicted simple PM performance in both groups, but not complex PM. In MCI, PM overall predicted everyday functioning, with informant ratings emerging as unique predictors. Conclusion Our complex PM task was sensitive to the early cognitive effects of MCI. Subjective PM reports did not predict this subtype of PM. Overall, these findings indicate that when assessing complex PM, objective assessment is necessary. Subjective reports are still informative when evaluating simple PM and functional abilities.