Roberts J L, Clare L, Woods R T
Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2009;28(2):95-109. doi: 10.1159/000234911. Epub 2009 Aug 13.
Subjective memory complaint (SMC) is central to the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People with MCI are at a higher risk of progressing to dementia, and research on SMC is contradictory in terms of the accuracy of SMC and its predictive role for future dementia. One possible reason for these contradictory findings is that the level of awareness of memory function may vary among people with MCI. This review examines whether the level of awareness of memory functioning varies amongst people classified as having MCI and whether there is support for the suggestion that the level of awareness in MCI predicts future progression to dementia.
Sixteen studies were identified which evaluate the awareness level in people classified as having MCI in either a clinical or research setting. In addition to the outcome of each study, the conceptualization of awareness, 'object' of awareness and methodology were also considered.
There is evidence to show that the level of awareness in MCI does vary, and this may have implications for future progression to dementia.
Given the increased risk of progression to dementia for those identified as having MCI, the role of awareness should be explored further with due consideration given to the conceptualization of awareness and the methodology employed. The finding of variability in awareness has implications for the use of SMC in the diagnostic criteria for MCI.
主观记忆主诉（SMC）是轻度认知障碍（MCI）诊断的核心。MCI患者发展为痴呆症的风险更高，而关于SMC的研究在SMC的准确性及其对未来痴呆症的预测作用方面存在矛盾。这些矛盾发现的一个可能原因是，MCI患者对记忆功能的认知水平可能存在差异。本综述探讨了被归类为MCI的人群中记忆功能的认知水平是否存在差异，以及是否支持MCI中的认知水平可预测未来发展为痴呆症这一观点。
确定了16项研究，这些研究在临床或研究环境中评估了被归类为MCI的人群的认知水平。除了每项研究的结果外，还考虑了认知的概念化、认知的“对象”和方法。
有证据表明，MCI中的认知水平确实存在差异，这可能对未来发展为痴呆症有影响。
鉴于被确定为MCI的人群发展为痴呆症的风险增加，应进一步探讨认知的作用，同时适当考虑认知的概念化和所采用的方法。认知存在差异这一发现对SMC在MCI诊断标准中的应用具有影响。
