Subjective memory complaints as a predictor of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease

While there is a multitude of studies on mild cognitive impairment (MCI; more than 80,000 articles), subjective memory complaints (SMC) have received less attention as a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD; less than 2000 articles). In this perspective review article, we argue that SMC should also be considered as another risk factor for the development of AD, and perhaps a pre-MCI condition. This recognition of SMC could help clinicians to identify individuals at risk of developing dementia and could provide protective treatment for them. Accordingly, in this perspective article, we review key studies that outline the nature of SMC, discuss how SMC is measured, explore SMC in MCI, introduce some approaches to SMC treatment, and we discuss future directions for SMC research. Overall, we argue that, like MCI, there should be more research on SMC as a risk factor for developing AD. Consequentially, we aim to highlight the need for further research on SMC and the condition’s role as a potential neuroprotector against AD (e.g., early-stage marker).