The validity of the Memory Alteration Test and the Test Your Memory test for community-based identification of amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigated the validity of two brief cognitive tests (Memory Alteration Test [M@T] and Test Your Memory [TYM] test) for identifying people with aMCI in the community.

Methods: Older people were invited to participate by their general practitioner practice. Eligible participants were assessed for aMCI using an operationalized approach to the Petersen criteria and the M@T and TYM.

Results: Both tests demonstrated significant ability in discriminating between people with aMCI and controls (AUC = 0.91 for M@T and 0.80 for TYM [P < .001 for both]). M@T performed with higher sensitivity than TYM (85% vs. 63%) and similar specificity (84% vs. 87%). Both tests demonstrated moderate test-retest reliability (κ = ∼0.5) and took <10 minutes to administer.

Discussion: M@T and TYM are quick to administer. M@T demonstrated higher diagnostic test accuracy than TYM and could provide an efficient method for identifying aMCI in clinical and research settings.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Dementia; Diagnostic test accuracy; Mild cognitive impairment; Neuropsychological assessment; Reliability; Validity.