Worldwide dementia prevalence is almost 25 million cases
and is projected to reach more than 81 million cases by the
year 2040(1). Alzheimer’s disease comprises 60 to 80% of
cases of dementia(2). The construct mild cognitive impairment
(3) identifies individuals with elevated risk for dementia
(4), and progression from mild cognitive impairment to
Alzheimer’s disease can be as high as 10% per year(5).
Further, there are indications that even age-associated
memory impairment, originally conceptualised as benign
forgetfulness(6,7), can reflect very early neurodegeneration.
Older adult samples with subjective memory complaints
who meet criteria for age-associated memory impairment
show degradation in the medial temporal lobe that is similar,
albeit not as extensive, as that observed in subjects with
mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease(8), and
longitudinal investigation has shown a trebling of risk for
those categorised as having age-associated memory impairment
(9,10). Such findings imply that memory complaints and
associated manifestations in everyday functioning can be
meaningful indicators of neurodegeneration. Preventive interventions
initiated when early memory decline is evident have
the potential to forestall progression, most likely at the final
stage when such treatment might be effective(1