Adaptation and Validation of the Memory Alteration Test (M@T) in Greek Middle-Aged, Older, and Older-Old Population with Subjective Cognitive Decline and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lazarou, Ioulietta^{a; b; *} | Moraitou, Despina^c | Papatheodorou, Marianna^d | Vavouras, Isaak^d | Lokantidou, Chrysanthi^d | Agogiatou, Christina^d | Gialaoutzis, Moses^d | Nikolopoulos, Spiros^a | Stavropoulos, Thanos G.^a | Kompatsiaris, Ioannis^a | Tsolaki, Magda^{a; b; d}

Affiliations: [a] Information Technologies Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece | [b] 1st Department of Neurology, G.H. “AHEPA”, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | [c] Laboratory of Psychology, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | [d] Greek Association of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (GAADRD), Thessaloniki, Greece

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Ioulietta Lazarou, BScPsy, MSc, PhD, Psychologist, Clinical Research Associate, Building A - Office 0.7, Information Technologies Institute, Centre of Research & Technology –Hellas, 6th km Charilaou - Thermi Road, P.O. Box 6036, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece. Tel.: +30 2311 257 739; Fax: +30 2310 474 128; E-mail: iouliettalaz@iti.gr.

Abstract: Background:The Memory Alteration Test (M@T) is a verbal episodic and semantic memory screening test able to detect subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Objective:To adapt M@T, creating a Greek version of the Memory Alteration Test (M@T-GR), and to validate M@T-GR compared to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Subjective Cognitive Decline- Questionnaire (SCD-Q) MyCog and TheirCog. Methods:232 people over 55 years old participated in the study and they were classified as healthy controls (HC, n = 65), SCD (n = 78), or MCI (n = 89). Results:The ANCOVA showed that the M@T-GR’s total score was significantly different in HC and SCD (I-J = 2.26, p = 0.032), HC and MCI (I-J = 6.16, p < 0.0001), and SCD compared to MCI (I-J = 3.90, p < 0.0001). In particular, a cut-off score of 46.50 points had an 81%sensitivity and 61%specificity for discriminating HC from SCD (AUC = 0.76, p < 0.0001), while a cut-off score of 45.50 had a sensitivity of 92%and a specificity of 73%for discriminating MCI (AUC = 0.88, p < 0.0001), and a cut-off score of 45.50 points had a sensitivity of 63%and a specificity of 73%for discriminating SCD from those with MCI (AUC = 0.69, p < 0.0021). Exploratory factor analysis indicated that there was one factor explaining 38.46%of the total variance. Internal consistency was adequate (α= 0.75), while convergent validity was found between M@T-GR and MMSE (r = 0.37, p < 0.0001) and SCD-Q TheirCog (r = –0.32, p < 0.0001). Conclusion:The M@T-GR is a good to fair screening tool with adequate discriminant validity for administration in people with SCD and MCI in Greece.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, diagnosis, memory alteration test, mild cognitive impairment, neuropsychological test, subjective cognitive decline

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-210558

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 84, no. 3, pp. 1219-1232, 2021