Subjective cognitive decline: mental health, loneliness, pain and quality of life: poblational study

Abstract

Background: Subjective cognitive decline is considered to be a risk for Alzheimer’s disease. However, it can also be associated with non-cognitive variables. Objectives: This study analyzes the association between subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and variables related to memory, mental health, morbidity, pain, quality of life, loneliness, lifestyle, and social aspects; analyzes predictors of SCD. Methods: Cross-sectional epidemiological study of a sample of individuals randomly selected from a city census. Telephone interviews were conducted with 1775 individuals aged over 55 years. We administered a 7-item questionnaire on SCD and asked about health, lifestyle, and social variables; we also administered a measure of general mental health, the Goldberg Health Questionnaire, and the health-related quality of life scale COOP/WONCA. Results: SCD showed statistically significant associations with orientation in time (r=0.16), mental health variables (r=0.41), quality of life (r=0.36), loneliness (Eta2=0.04), disability (R2=0.05), pain (R2=0.12), hearing difficulties (R2=0.03), vision problems (R2=0.05), and chronic disease (R2=0.04). The variables orientation in time, mental health, depression, sleep quality, multimorbidity, and hearing difficulties were identified as predictors of SCD (p<0.001; R2=0.30). Conclusion: The heterogeneity of the variables associated with SCD should be taken into account to differentiate individuals at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease from those in whom the condition may be explained by other factors.