Jonker C, Geerlings M I, Schmand B
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine (EMGO Institute), Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2000 Nov;15(11):983-91. doi: 10.1002/1099-1166(200011)15:11<983::aid-gps238>3.0.co;2-5.
To review studies that have reported on the prevalence of memory complaints and the relationship between memory complaints and impairment or decline (dementia) in elderly individuals.
All publications in the English language relating to memory complaints, memory impairment, cognitive disorder and dementia in MEDLINE, PSYCHLIT and EMBASE computerized databases, together with a search of relevant citations.
The prevalence of memory complaints, defined as everyday memory problems, shows a large variation of approximately 25 - 50%. A high age, female gender and a low level of education are generally associated with a high prevalence of memory complaints. In community-based samples of elderly subjects an association has been found between memory complaints and memory impairment, after adjustment for depressive symptomatology. Memory complaints predict dementia after a follow-up of at least 2 years, in particular in those with mild cognitive impairment, defined as Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) > 23. Memory complaints in highly educated elderly subjects may be predictive of dementia even when there is no indication of cognitive impairment on short cognitive screen tests. The shift in methodology which is noticeable in the recently published major studies is discussed as a possible explanation for the established association between memory complaints and decline in memory (or dementia) in elderly subjects. Three methodological factors, in particular, are responsible for the results: community-based sampling, longitudinal design and the treatment of variables such as depression, cognitive impairment and level of education.
Memory complaints in elderly people should no longer be considered merely as an innocent age-related phenomenon or a symptom of depression. Instead, these complaints deserve to be taken seriously, at least as a possible early sign of dementia.
回顾关于老年人记忆主诉患病率以及记忆主诉与损害或衰退（痴呆）之间关系的研究。
检索MEDLINE、PSYCHLIT和EMBASE计算机数据库中所有与记忆主诉、记忆损害、认知障碍和痴呆相关的英文出版物，并搜索相关参考文献。
记忆主诉（定义为日常记忆问题）的患病率差异很大，约为25%-50%。高龄、女性以及低教育水平通常与记忆主诉的高患病率相关。在以社区为基础的老年受试者样本中，在对抑郁症状进行校正后，发现记忆主诉与记忆损害之间存在关联。在至少随访2年后，记忆主诉可预测痴呆，尤其是在那些轻度认知障碍（定义为简易精神状态检查表（MMSE）>23）的患者中。即使在简短认知筛查测试中没有认知损害迹象，高学历老年受试者的记忆主诉也可能预测痴呆。讨论了最近发表的主要研究中明显的方法学转变，作为老年受试者记忆主诉与记忆衰退（或痴呆）之间既定关联的一种可能解释。特别是三个方法学因素导致了这些结果：以社区为基础的抽样、纵向设计以及对抑郁、认知损害和教育水平等变量的处理。
老年人的记忆主诉不应再仅仅被视为一种无害的与年龄相关的现象或抑郁症状。相反，这些主诉值得认真对待，至少作为痴呆的一种可能早期迹象。
