Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline

<b>Objectives:</b> The main objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate if there are significant differences in cognition between a group of older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and cognitively intact controls. <b>Methods:</b> An initial sample...

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Main Authors: Ramón López-Higes, Susana Rubio-Valdehita, David López-Sanz, Sara M. Fernandes, Pedro F. S. Rodrigues, María Luisa Delgado-Losada
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Geriatrics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/10/2/39
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author Ramón López-Higes
Susana Rubio-Valdehita
David López-Sanz
Sara M. Fernandes
Pedro F. S. Rodrigues
María Luisa Delgado-Losada
author_facet Ramón López-Higes
Susana Rubio-Valdehita
David López-Sanz
Sara M. Fernandes
Pedro F. S. Rodrigues
María Luisa Delgado-Losada
author_sort Ramón López-Higes
collection DOAJ
description <b>Objectives:</b> The main objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate if there are significant differences in cognition between a group of older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and cognitively intact controls. <b>Methods:</b> An initial sample of 132 older people underwent an extensive neuropsychological evaluation (memory, executive functions, and language) and were classified according to diagnostic criteria. Two groups of 33 subjects each, controls and SCD, were formed using an a priori case-matching procedures in different variables: age, biological sex, years of education, cognitive reserve, and Mini-Mental State Exam. <b>Results:</b> The mean age and standard deviation in the control group were equal to 70.39 ± 4.31 years, while in the SCD group, they were 70.30 ± 4.33 years. The number of males (<i>n</i> = 9) and females (<i>n</i> = 24) was equal in both groups; the means of years of education were also quite similar. SCD participants have a significantly lower mood than the controls. Significant differences between groups were obtained in delayed recall, inhibitory control, and comprehension of sentences not fitted to canonical word order in Spanish. A logistic regression revealed that a lower score on the Stroop’s interference condition is associated with a higher likelihood of having SCD. Finally, ROC analysis provided a model that performs better than random chance, and a cut-off score in Stroop’s interference condition equal to 49 was suggested for clinically differentiating the two groups. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study highlights that, compared to a matched control group, participants with SCD showed subtle but significant neuropsychological differences.
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spelling doaj-art-83ff136eb3c74d49b1ae75b3469cba7c2025-08-20T02:28:23ZengMDPI AGGeriatrics2308-34172025-03-011023910.3390/geriatrics10020039Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive DeclineRamón López-Higes0Susana Rubio-Valdehita1David López-Sanz2Sara M. Fernandes3Pedro F. S. Rodrigues4María Luisa Delgado-Losada5Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), 28223 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Psicología Social, del Trabajo y Diferencial, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), 28223 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Psicología Experimental, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), 28223 Madrid, SpainCINTESIS.UPT@RISE-Health, Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, PortugalCINTESIS.UPT@RISE-Health, Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, PortugalDepartamento de Psicología Experimental, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), 28223 Madrid, Spain<b>Objectives:</b> The main objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate if there are significant differences in cognition between a group of older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and cognitively intact controls. <b>Methods:</b> An initial sample of 132 older people underwent an extensive neuropsychological evaluation (memory, executive functions, and language) and were classified according to diagnostic criteria. Two groups of 33 subjects each, controls and SCD, were formed using an a priori case-matching procedures in different variables: age, biological sex, years of education, cognitive reserve, and Mini-Mental State Exam. <b>Results:</b> The mean age and standard deviation in the control group were equal to 70.39 ± 4.31 years, while in the SCD group, they were 70.30 ± 4.33 years. The number of males (<i>n</i> = 9) and females (<i>n</i> = 24) was equal in both groups; the means of years of education were also quite similar. SCD participants have a significantly lower mood than the controls. Significant differences between groups were obtained in delayed recall, inhibitory control, and comprehension of sentences not fitted to canonical word order in Spanish. A logistic regression revealed that a lower score on the Stroop’s interference condition is associated with a higher likelihood of having SCD. Finally, ROC analysis provided a model that performs better than random chance, and a cut-off score in Stroop’s interference condition equal to 49 was suggested for clinically differentiating the two groups. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study highlights that, compared to a matched control group, participants with SCD showed subtle but significant neuropsychological differences.https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/10/2/39subjective cognitive declinehealthy older adultsmemoryexecutive functionslanguage
spellingShingle Ramón López-Higes
Susana Rubio-Valdehita
David López-Sanz
Sara M. Fernandes
Pedro F. S. Rodrigues
María Luisa Delgado-Losada
Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline
Geriatrics
subjective cognitive decline
healthy older adults
memory
executive functions
language
title Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline
title_full Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline
title_fullStr Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline
title_full_unstemmed Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline
title_short Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline
title_sort cognitive performance among older adults with subjective cognitive decline
topic subjective cognitive decline
healthy older adults
memory
executive functions
language
url https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/10/2/39
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