Subjective Cognitive Decline from a Phenomenological Perspective: A Review of the Qualitative Literature

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Subjective cognitive decline is related to greater risk of dementia and biological markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but researchers are yet to characterize the phenomenological perspective of cognitive decline in those with and without a diagnosis of AD. OBJECTIVE: To collate and synthesize studies measuring the subjective experience of cognitive change or decline in healthy older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment and AD. METHODS: We reviewed 58 peer-reviewed articles that were found to directly or indirectly refer to the subjective experience of cognitive decline. RESULTS: We extracted eight central themes, dealing with cognitive changes experienced by each dia..