UC Davis

Background

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may represent a low-burden indicator of dementia risk. The value of SCD as a proxy marker, however, depends on the consistency of associations between subjective and objective cognitive measures across sociodemographic and psychological factors.

Methods

We evaluated baseline data from the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) study (n=1615). SCD was measured using the 12-item Everyday Cognition (ECog) scale. Using linear regression models with interaction terms, we evaluated 6 potential modifiers (age, sex, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, family history of dementia, and depressive symptoms) of the association between cognitive performance (episodic memory, executive function) and SCD.

Results

Lower episodic memory and executive function scores were associated with higher log(ECog scores) (more SCD). Older age and elevated depressive symptoms were associated with higher log(ECog scores). Age (interaction P=0.002) and education (interaction P=0.01) modified the association between executive function and log(ECog scores). Specifically, associations between executive function and log(ECog scores) were stronger among participants with more education and less pronounced among older participants.

Conclusions

The association between cognitive performance and log(ECog scores) differed little across sociodemographic and psychological factors. SCD as measured by the ECog may be a valuable proxy for cognitive performance in diverse older adults.