Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) is characterized by a self-perceived decline in cognition without evidence of objective cognitive impairment and it is considered a potential predictor of Alzheimer Disease (AD). Due to the subtlety of cognitive deficits potentially present in this population, assessments of people with SCD are particularly challenging. However, the serial position effect (SPE) may be a sensitive measure to distinguish between people with and without SCD. This study uses data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a 20-year national study following 50,000 Canadians aged 45-85 at baseline. The SPE is measured using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning test (RAVLT), which assesses verbal learning and retention. This study aims to examine whether the SPE varies as a function of SCD status and evaluate the stability of the SPE over time in older adults with SCD. It is expected that those with SCD will demonstrate reduced primacy recall and show greater decline in primacy recall over time compared to healthy controls. Furthering our understanding of SCD will improve our ability to identify people at-risk for developing AD before the emergence of any clinical symptoms. Moreover, if the SPE can effectively distinguish between individuals with and without SCD, future research can focus on producing normative data for the SPE in people with SCD, aiding in the early detection of cognitive decline in this population. Ultimately, this work will improve assessment tools and intervention programs for older adults with SCD.