Subjective Cognitive Decline in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease
Abstract
Older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in the absence of objective neuropsychological dysfunction are increasingly viewed as at risk for non-normative cognitive decline and eventual progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. The past decade has witnessed tremendous growth in research on SCD, which may reflect the recognition of SCD as the earliest symptomatic manifestation of AD. Yet methodological challenges associated with establishing common assessment and classification procedures hamper the construct. This article reviews essential features of SCD associated with preclinical AD and current measurement approaches, highlighting challenges in harmonizing study findings across settings. We consider the relation of SCD to important variables and outcomes (e.g., AD biomarkers, clinical progression). We also examine the role of self- and informant-reports in SCD and various psychological, medical, and demographic factors that influence the self-report of cognition. We conclude with a discussion of intervention strategies for SCD, ethical considerations, and future research priorities.
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Symptoms of SCD are associated with specific and distinctive underlying pathological events, such as abnormal deposition of ß-amyloid and tau proteins, gray matter atrophy, disruptions in WM and deficits in brain function.
“An increasing number of neuroimaging studies have indicated that the symptoms of SCD are associated with specific and distinctive underlying pathological events, such as the abnormal deposition of ß-amyloid and tau proteins, gray matter atrophy, disruptions in the white matter (WM) and deficits in brain function [3, 10, 11].”
From Neuroimaging advances regarding subjective cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease (2020) · cites this paper as [3]
SCD is regarded as the first clinical manifestation in the AD continuum.
“Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), the first clinical manifestation in the AD continuum, is self-experienced decline in cognitive function without evidence of objective cognitive impairment [3–5].”
From Neuroimaging advances regarding subjective cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease (2020) · cites this paper as [3]
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- Authors
- Rabin, L. A., Smart, C. M., & Amariglio, R. E.
- Affiliations
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine (US)
- University of Victoria (CA)
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Venue
- Annual Review of Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 2017-05-08
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 369-396
- ISSN
- 1548-5943 (ISSN-L)
- 1548-5951
- OpenAlex
- W2522995391
- Cited by
- 590
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 49 · 2025: 85 · 2024: 89 · 2023: 73 · 2022: 78 · 2021: 85 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 5.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annual Review of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (K23AG044431, SC2AG039235)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Keywords
- subjective cognitive decline, preclinical Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer's dementia, cognitive assessment, Alzheimer's disease biomarkers, clinical progression, informant reports, risk factors, intervention strategies, ethics
- MeSH terms
- Alzheimer Disease, Humans, Diagnostic Self Evaluation, Cognitive Dysfunction, Prodromal Symptoms
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