Older adults with memory complaints, despite normal test results, may actually be exhibiting the earliest sign of dementia, according to a study conducted at Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, New Hampshire.

As reported in the journal Neurology, Dr. Andrew Saykin and his associates used special MRI tests to evaluate various brain regions in 40 subjects who complained of memory loss in the absence of dementia, 40 subjects with early dementia, and 40 healthy comparison subjects. Patients with psychiatric disorders, significant brain disease or those younger than 60 years were excluded.

Certain brain regions of patients who complained of memory loss looked similar to those with early dementia. However, in other brain regions, the subjects with memory loss appeared to be no different from healthy subjects.

Subjective complaints of memory loss “may signify a very early stage of the dementing process for some individuals,” the team writes. Therefore, they recommend that older adults who report significant problems with memory loss “warrant evaluation and close monitoring over time.”

To better understand the significance of these correlations, Saykin and his colleagues intend to follow the study group over time.

They also note that their subjects had relatively high educational levels and IQ scores, so future studies should evaluate patients with lower levels of mental functioning.

SOURCE: Neurology, September 2006.