BACKGROUND: Older adults with subjective memory complaints retain high risk for cognitive impairment and dementia but reasons for this association remain elusive. One contributing factor may be affective symptoms which coincide with prodromal complaints and propel later deterioration. Cross-sectional studies show that memory complaints are associated with higher perceived stress above depression and anxiety, However, within-person analyses can better clarify if perceived stress tracks with memory complaints as individuals age. Thus, in a longitudinal sample of older adults, we investigated how changes in subjective memory complaints associate with perceived stress over time.
METHODS: This study included 1,260 community-dwelling older adults drawn from the Einstein Aging Study (Mage = 77.88, SD = 5.13, 63.30% female; 73.21% White, 26.79% Black). Data were utilized from up to 11 annual waves per participant and included in-person assessments of subjective memory (frequency of problems, perceived 1-year decline, perceived 10-year decline) and perceived stress.
RESULTS: Although not true for all (p > .10), some older adults accumulated perceived stress over time. Looking at demographic contributions, participants who were older (b = .24, SE = .06, p < .001), Black (b = −2.66, SE = .690, p < .001), and below the poverty line incurred greater perceived stress (b = 2.25, SE = .871, p = .027). After controlling for these differences, changes in frequency of memory problems and perceived 10-year memory decline did not associate with perceived stress (ps > .10). Yet, for each year that older adults endorsed greater 1-year memory decline, perceived stress increased (b = .642, SE = .320, p = .045).
CONCLUSIONS: Perceptions of 1-year memory decline, but not other complaints, inflated perceived stress over time. This is problematic as perceptions of decline coupled with “worry” may increase future cognitive decline risk. Along with other affective factors, future research should explore how perceived stress mediates relations between perceived memory decline and objective cognition, offering earlier targets for preventative intervention.
