Perceived Loss of Memory Ability and Cerebral Metabolic Decline in Persons With the Apolipoprotein E-IV Genetic Risk for Alzheimer Disease

Abstract

Context Concerns about age-related memory loss are greater in persons who have the apolipoprotein E-IV (APOE4) genetic risk for Alzheimer disease, but the correlation between the degree of concerns and future cerebral metabolic decline is unknown. Objective To investigate whether the degree of self-perceived memory loss is associated with regional cerebral metabolic decline. Design Longitudinal study. Setting Aging and Memory Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles. Participants Thirty right-handed, cognitively intact, middle-aged and older adults (age range, 50-82 years) with age-associated memory complaints, 14 of whom were carriers of the apolipoprotein E-IV allele, were recruited for longitudinal study. Main outcome measures At baseline, we administered a standardized neuropsychological battery and assessed self-appraisal of memory functioning using the Memory Functioning Questionnaire, which yields 4 factor scores indicating frequency of forgetting, seriousness of forgetting, retrospective functioning, and mnemonics use. Regional cerebral glucose metabolism was determined using fluorodeoxyglucose F18-positron emission tomography at baseline and after 2 years. Results At baseline, APOE4 carriers and noncarriers did not differ significantly on objective memory measures or on Memory Functioning Questionnaire factor scores. However, the factor score for frequency of forgetting significantly correlated with g…