Memory self-appraisal and depressive symptoms in people at genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease

Objective A previous study found that subjective memory loss in middle-aged and older persons is associated with the major genetic risk for Alzheimer' s disease, the apolipoprotein E-4 (APOE-4) allele. No previous study has fo cused on subjective memory complaints and depressive symptoms in the same s ubject population at genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease. Method Sixty-six persons (mean age = 64 years, range = 43 to 82 years) with out major depression or dementia but with mild age-related memory complaint s were rated for severity of depressive symptoms, using the Hamilton Depres sion Rating Scale, and assessed for the presence of the APOE-4 allele. Seve rity of subjective memory loss was assessed using the Memory Functioning Qu estionnaire, which measures four memory domains: frequency of forgetting, s eriousness of forgetting, retrospective functioning, and mnemonics usage. Results Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with subjective m emory loss in subjects without the APOE-4 allele, for retrospective functio ning (perceived change in memory) and mnemonics usage, but not in APOE-4 ca rriers. The same significant associations were found when the analysis was limited to the 44 subjects in the mid-age range (55-74 years), wherein APOE -4 confers its greatest effects on risk for Alzheimer's disease. Conclusions These results confirm that mild depressive symptoms are related to subjective memory loss, but for some forms of memory complaint, the rel ationship holds true only for people without the major known genetic risk f or Alzheimer's disease. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.