Prevalence of and Factors Related to Subjective Cognitive Decline in Middle-Aged Adults

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in middle-aged adults. METHOD: The current cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to recruit community-dwelling adults aged 50 to 64 years. Data collected included demographics, disease characteristics, frailty, depression, sleep quality, and social support. A logistic regression model identified significant risk factors related to SCD. RESULTS: In total, 200 middle-aged adults participated in the study, with a 15% prevalence of SCD. Multiple logistic regression models revealed that chronic diseases, smoking, and poor sleep quality were significantly associated with increased SCD. Specifically, participants with chronic diseases (odds ratio [OR] = 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.27, 7.04]), those who smoked (OR = 3.51, 95% CI [1.23, 10.02]), and those reporting poor sleep quality (OR = 3.18, 95% CI [1.36, 7.49]) had significantly higher likelihoods of experiencing SCD compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSION: This study identified significant associations among chronic disease status, smoking, and poor sleep quality and the presence of SCD among middle-aged adults. Although causal relationships cannot be established, findings highlight the need for greater attention to cognitive health in individuals with these risk profiles. Further longitudinal research is warranted to clarify temporal relationships and assess the potential value of targeted monitoring strategies in at-risk populations.