Subjective cognitive decline prevalence, impacts, and discussions with healthcare professionals among middle-aged and older women veterans and non-veterans, 2021-2022.

OBJECTIVES

Veterans may be at higher risk of cognitive decline due to military-related risk factors (e.g. traumatic brain injury). We compared the prevalence and impacts of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) among veteran and non-veteran women.

METHOD: Using data from the 2021-2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Cognitive Decline module in 29 jurisdictions, women ≥45 years reporting increased memory problems or confusion over the past year were classified as having SCD. We calculated weighted estimates among 1,905 women veterans (n = 268 with SCD) and 66,880 women non-veterans (n = 7,609 with SCD) and estimated prevalence ratios (PR). We stratified analyses by age group: 45-64 years and ≥65 years.

RESULTS

SCD prevalence was similar for veterans and non-veterans (13.3% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.24). Among women 45-64 years with SCD, veterans were more likely to have discussed their SCD with a healthcare professional, even after accounting for depression history and the social and household impacts of SCD (PR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06-1.29).

CONCLUSION

Additional research is needed to address why women veterans may be more likely than women non-veterans to discuss their concerns about memory or thinking issues. This knowledge may be valuable in promoting early detection of dementia.