People with early observation of memory loss may suffer Alzheimer's later

A new research has demonstrated that people who observe that their memory is getting weak might actually be right.

The study conducted at University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center has suggested that self-reported memory complaints are strong predictors of clinical memory impairment later in life.

The researchers asked 531 people with an average age of 73 and free of dementia if they had noticed any changes in their memory in the prior year. The participants were also given annual memory and thinking tests for an average of 10 years. After death, participants' brains were examined for evidence of Alzheimer's disease.

Richard Kryscio, PhD, Chairman of the Department of Biostatistics and Associate Director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center at the University of Kentucky, said that what was notable about their study was the time it took for the transition from self-reported memory complaint to dementia or clinical impairment about 12 years for dementia and nine years for clinical impairment after the memory complaints began.

Kryscio added that certainly, someone with memory issues should report it to their doctor so they could be followed. Unfortunately, however, they did not yet have preventative therapies for Alzheimer's disease or other illnesses that caused memory problems.