Occupational performance issues in older adults with subjective cognitive decline
Creators: name: Rotenberg, Shlomit
name: Leung, Calvin
name: Quach, Henry
name: Anderson, Nicole D.
name: Dawson, Deirdre R.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Pharmacology
subject: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: Science Policy
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: 111714 Mental Health
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: To describe and categorize difficulties in daily activities of older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) compared to individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Deductive quantitative content analysis was used to classify reported issues in the performance of meaningful daily activities, in older adults with SCD (<i>n</i> = 67; age= 70 ± 6.3) or MCI (<i>n</i> = 42; age= 72 ± 6.6). The occupational performance issues were identified using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, a semi-structured interview, and categorised using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Both groups identified issues in all nine ICF “Activities and Participation” domains, with no significant group effects on seven of them. The most frequently affected “Activities and Participation” domains in both groups were “Self-care” (e.g. exercise and diet); “Community, social and civic life” (e.g. social-leisure activities); and "General tasks and demands” (e.g. time management). Over 90% of the issues in both groups were described in the context of difficulties in “Mental functions” (e.g. memory and higher-level cognitive functions). Older adults with SCD, although independent, identified a variety of daily activities that they are not performing satisfactorily, remarkably similar in nature to the occupational performance issues described by older adults with MCI.Implications for RehabilitationOlder adults with SCD identified difficulties in performing social and leisure activities, maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviours, and managing multiple daily tasks.The daily challenges described by older adults with SCD are similar in nature to those identified by those with MCI.Older adults with SCD and MCI describe their daily challenges are related not only to memory problems, but also to executive dysfunction.Interventions for older adults with SCD should aim to improve self-identified problems in everyday functioning. Older adults with SCD identified difficulties in performing social and leisure activities, maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviours, and managing multiple daily tasks. The daily challenges described by older adults with SCD are similar in nature to those identified by those with MCI. Older adults with SCD and MCI describe their daily challenges are related not only to memory problems, but also to executive dysfunction. Interventions for older adults with SCD should aim to improve self-identified problems in everyday functioning.