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

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 (alpha = 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.

Automated summary

The Greek version of Memory Alteration Test (M@T-GR) showed good discriminant validity in distinguishing healthy controls, subjective cognitive decline, and mild cognitive impairment. It is a suitable screening tool for identifying SCD and MCI in Greece.