Measures of Subjective Memory for People with Epilepsy: A Systematic Review of Measurement Properties.

People with epilepsy frequently express concern about the burden of memory problems in their everyday lives. Self-report memory questionnaires may provide valuable insight into individuals' perceptions of their everyday memory performance and changes over time. Yet, despite their potential utility, the measurement properties of self-report memory questionnaires have not been evaluated in epilepsy. This systematic review aimed to provide a critical appraisal of the measurement properties of self-report memory questionnaires for adults with epilepsy. Following protocol registration (PROSPERO CRD42020210967), a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsychInfo from database inception until 27 May 2021 was conducted. Eligible studies were published in English-language peer-reviewed journals, recruited adults with epilepsy, and reported on the development or evaluation of the measurement properties of a self-report memory questionnaire. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) methodology was used to evaluate each study of a measurement property, and results were qualitatively synthesised. In total, 80 articles and one test manual were located containing 153 studies of measurement properties pertinent to 23 self-report memory questionnaires. Overall, no scale could be recommended outright for the evaluation of subjective memory symptoms in adults with epilepsy. This was due to the near absence of dedicated content validation studies relevant to this population and shortcomings in the methodology and scientific reporting of available studies of structural validity. Recommendations to support the advancement and psychometric validation of self-report memory questionnaires for people with epilepsy are provided.

Associations between lifestyle and cognitive function over time in women aged 40-79 years.

BACKGROUND: Smoking, excessive drinking, and physical inactivity are associated with reduced cognitive function but the independence, domain specific cognitive effects, and trajectories of these associations are not firmly established. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to examine these lifestyle-cognitive function associations in middle-to-older aged women across time. METHODS: Cohort study design with repeat surveys (2001, 2005, and 2008). Participants were volunteers from a random sample of Australian women on the Brisbane electoral roll; mean (±SD) age 60 ± 11 years in 2001. Outcome measures were the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Auditory Delayed Index (ADI), Visual Delayed Index (VDI), Working Memory Index (WMI), and Processing Speed Index (PSI). RESULTS: 489 women completed cognitive testing in 2001, 451 in 2005, and 376 in 2008. Mean (±SD) cognitive scores in 2001 were MMSE: 29.1 ± 1.2, ADI: 104.6 ± 13.4, VDI: 107.2 ± 14.0, WMI: 104.1 ± 12.3, and PSI: 102.7 ± 11.8. Multivariate adjusted mean scores (95% CI) over the 7-year study period were higher for moderate drinkers than non-drinkers for the MMSE (ß = 0.32; 0.04, 0.61), the VDI (ß = 4.33; 0.96, 7.70), and the WMI (ß = 3.21; 0.34, 6.07). Current smokers performed worse than never-smokers for the MMSE (ß = -0.35; 0.64, -0.06), the VDI (ß = -3.91; -7.57, -0.26), the WMI (ß = -3.42; -6.67, -0.18), and the PSI (ß = -5.89; -8.91, -2.87). PSI was higher in women performing strenuous physical activity compared to inactive women (ß = 2.14; 0.37, 3.90). None of the three lifestyle parameters influenced the changes in cognition across time. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol and exercise were associated with selective protective effects and tobacco with selective harmful effects on cognitive function in middle-to-older aged women. Associations remained consistent across time.

Test-retest reliability and practice effects of the Wechsler Memory Scale-III.

Although serial administration of cognitive tests is increasingly common, there is a paucity of research on test-retest reliabilities and practice effects, both of which are important for evaluating changes in functioning. Reliability is generally conceptualized as involving short-lasting changes in performance. However, when repeated testing occurs over a period of years, there will be some longer lasting effects. The implications of these longer lasting effects and practice effects on reliability were examined in the context of repeated administrations of the Wechsler Memory Scale-III in 339 community-dwelling women aged 40-79 years over 2 to 7 years. The results showed that Logical Memory and Verbal Paired Associates subtests were consistently the most reliable subtests across the age cohorts. The magnitude of practice effects varied as a function of subtests and age. The largest practice effects were found in the youngest age cohort, especially on the Faces, Logical Memory, and Verbal Paired Associates subtests.

Relationship between changes in body weight and cognitive function in middle-aged and older women.

BACKGROUND: Although several longitudinal studies indicate that weight loss precedes dementia in men and women, the relationship between weight changes and cognitive performance is unclear. This study investigated the relationship between changes in adiposity and cognitive function in community-dwelling women. METHODS: Data were derived from the Longitudinal Assessment of Women Study, a population-based study of 511 urban women initially aged 40-79 years. We analyzed data from 334 women who had complete information on demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, medical status, weight, height, and waist-to-hip ratio and cognitive scores at baseline and after a mean of 7.45 years of follow-up. Cognition was assessed at baseline and follow-up using the Mini Mental State Examination; the Auditory Delayed Index, Visual Delayed Index, and Working Memory Index from the Wechsler Memory Scale, Third Edition; and the Processing Speed Index from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Third Edition. Associations were adjusted for age, education, baseline cognitive performance, cardiovascular risk factors, menopausal status, and apolipoprotein E-4 status. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, both weight gain and loss were associated with poor Visual Delayed Index performance at follow-up compared with stable weight (ß = -4.02 ± 1.57, p = 0.011; ß = -6.50 ± 2.39, p = 0.007, respectively). No significant associations were found between body mass index, waist circumference, or waist-to-hip ratio and any cognitive domains at follow-up. Changes in cognitive performance were not associated with changes in adiposity measures. CONCLUSION: Weight loss and weight gain were associated with poor cognitive performance in middle-aged and older women compared with women with stable weight.