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Abstract

Background

Subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), assessed in national surveys, offers potential for dementia monitoring and early detection. However, its causal link to dementia risk remains unclear.

Objective

To evaluate whether SCI causally affects dementia risk in U.S. older adults (≥65 years), considering mortality as a competing risk.

Methods

Using data from 1622 dementia-free older adults in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) during 2011–2019, we estimated total, direct, and separable effects of SCI on dementia and mortality risks.

Results

SCI was reported by 7.6% at baseline and associated with a twofold increased dementia risk over 8 years (RR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.07–3.07) and lower mortality risk (RR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.10–0.67). Direct effect analysis indicated a potential direct causal link between SCI and dementia.

Conclusions

SCI predicts dementia onset and inversely affects mortality, highlighting the importance of early detection and precise analytic approaches.

Keywords

subjective cognitive impairment probable dementia Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias competing risks NHATS

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Subjective Cognitive Impairment (SCI) and Future Dementia Risk in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) During 2012–2019

Abstract

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keywords

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