Prediction of one-year cognitive decline via self-perceived memory in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Subjective memory complaints (SMC) are associated with increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. SMCs are also influenced by mood and anxiety symptoms, which increased among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective

We investigated whether a single-item SMC measure predicts one-year cognitive decline and whether this predictive relationship remained stable during the early COVID-19 period (2020).

Methods

We analyzed longitudinal data (2011-2023) from the National Health And Aging Trends Study (NHATS), an annual survey of Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. Mixed-effects models assessed the association between self-perceived memory worsening and next-year cognitive outcomes, and tested whether this association differed in 2020.

SUBMITTER: Sato K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12860612 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature