Subjective memory complaints in Latin American older adults: Prevalence and risk factors

BackgroundSubjective memory complaints (SMC) are linked to an increased risk of neurocognitive disorders (NCD).ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of SMC and their association with sociodemographic and clinical factors in 3285 older adults (OA) from ten Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.MethodThis population-based analysis used secondary data from an international multicenter study on NCD prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cognitively healthy participants were identified based on clinical criteria, cognitive assessments, and expert consensus. Participants were categorized as with (WSMC; n = 602) or without SMC (NSMC; n = 2683). Sociodemographic and clinical variables were recorded. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Short Version (MoCA-T), depressive symptoms with the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and functional decline with the Eight-Item Informant Interview (AD8). Mean difference analyses and logistic regressions were performed.ResultsThe regional prevalence of SMC was 18.33%, ranging from 11.59% in Guatemala to 26.30% in Peru. OA with SMC showed lower education, poorer cognitive performance, and higher rates of anxiety, falls, and fractures. Regression models revealed significant associations between SMC and lower education (p < 0.001), emotional distress (p < 0.001), age (p = 0.024), anxiety (p = 0.017), infrequent and occasional falls (p = 0.017; p = 0.002), and fractures (p = 0.028).ConclusionsSMC are prevalent among LAC older adults and are associated with multiple risk factors, highlighting their public health relevance and potential as early indicators of NCD risk.

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Journal
Journal of Alzheimer s Disease
Published
2025-12-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877251400666
Primary Topic
Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
Type
article
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article

Subjective memory complaints in Latin American older adults: Prevalence and risk factors

Neyda Ma. Mendoza-Ruvalcaba, Raúl Quincho Apumayta, Miguel Ramos‐Henderson, Edgardo Félix Palomino Torres et al.
Journal of Alzheimer s Disease
Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
article

Subjective memory complaints in Latin American older adults: Prevalence and risk factors

Neyda Ma. Mendoza-Ruvalcaba, Raúl Quincho Apumayta, Miguel Ramos‐Henderson, Edgardo Félix Palomino Torres, Daniela Ripoll-Córdoba, Wendy Nelly Bada Laura, Carolina Boza-Calvo, Pascual Ángel Gargiulo, César Castellanos, Ursula Calle, Loida Camargo, Alberto Rivelino Patiño Rivera, Edgard Eliud Castillo-Támara, Yuliana Florez Niño, Juan Carlos Cárdenas Valverde, Juan Carlos Sandoval Coronado, Claudia Garcı́a de la Cadena, Nicanor Mori, Juan Miranda-Pacheco, David Elí Salazar Espinoza, Carlos Ardila-Duarte, Norman López, Claudia Varón, María F. Porto, Juan Martínez, César Quispe-Ayala, Nicole Caldichoury, Karen Alcos-Flores, Breiner Morales-Asencio
article en

Abstract

BackgroundSubjective memory complaints (SMC) are linked to an increased risk of neurocognitive disorders (NCD).ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of SMC and their association with sociodemographic and clinical factors in 3285 older adults (OA) from ten Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.MethodThis population-based analysis used secondary data from an international multicenter study on NCD prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cognitively healthy participants were identified based on clinical criteria, cognitive assessments, and expert consensus. Participants were categorized as with (WSMC; n = 602) or without SMC (NSMC; n = 2683). Sociodemographic and clinical variables were recorded. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Short Version (MoCA-T), depressive symptoms with the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and functional decline with the Eight-Item Informant Interview (AD8). Mean difference analyses and logistic regressions were performed.ResultsThe regional prevalence of SMC was 18.33%, ranging from 11.59% in Guatemala to 26.30% in Peru. OA with SMC showed lower education, poorer cognitive performance, and higher rates of anxiety, falls, and fractures. Regression models revealed significant associations between SMC and lower education (p < 0.001), emotional distress (p < 0.001), age (p = 0.024), anxiety (p = 0.017), infrequent and occasional falls (p = 0.017; p = 0.002), and fractures (p = 0.028).ConclusionsSMC are prevalent among LAC older adults and are associated with multiple risk factors, highlighting their public health relevance and potential as early indicators of NCD risk.

Journal of Alzheimer s DiseaseVol. 109(2)
University of Cartagena (CO), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (AR), Universidad de Guadalajara (MX), Universidad Católica de Temuco (CL), Daniel Alcides Carrión National University (PE), Universidad de Costa Rica (CR), Universidad Metropolitana (CO), Huertas College (PR), Instituto Profesional Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior (CL), Universidad del Sinú (CO), Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (ES), Instituto del Mar del Peru (PE), University of the Coast (CO), Universidad Santo Tomás (CL), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (PE), Universidad Nacional Intercultural de la Amazonía (PE), Universidad Nacional de Huancavelica (PE), Universidad de Los Lagos (CL), Colombian Association of Surgery (CO), Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (GT)
Openalex Percentile: Top 53%
Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
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