RESUMO
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the characteristic differences of neurocognitive function in patients with subjective memory impairment and in those with mild cognitive impairment. METHODS: Patients with complaints of subjective memory impairment were categorized into subjective memory impairment (SMI, n=42) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n=42) based on their scores in the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and Clinical Dementia Rating and the neurologist's diagnosis and evaluation. The neurocognitive function and depression rating between the SMI and the MCI groups were compared using the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery and the Geriatric Depression Scale. RESULTS: The SMI group showed normal concentration, visual-spatial construction ability, and depression and deficits in the processing of memory consolidation through the delay test of verbal learning. The MCI group also showed no deficits in concentration but showed impairments in delayed recall and recognition test of verbal learning, visual memory test, and frontal lobe/executive functions. CONCLUSION: The MCI group showed more distinctive neurocognitive deficits in delayed recall and recognition test of verbal learning; encoding, storage, and retrieval of visual memory; and naming ability compared to the SMI group. The implications and suggestions of this study and further research were discussed.