What are the most common memory complaints following stroke? A frequency and exploratory factor analysis of items from the Everyday Memory Questionnaire-Revised

Subjective memory measures: Metamemory questionnaires currently in use

Subjective memory evaluation is important for assessing memory abilities and complaints alongside objective measures. In research and clinical settings, questionnaires are used to examine perceived memory ability, memory complaints, and memory beliefs/knowledge. Although they provide a structured measure of self-reported memory, there is some debate as to whether subjective evaluation accurately reflects memory abilities. Specifically, the disconnect between subjective and objective memory measures remains a long-standing issue within the field. Thus, it is essential to evaluate the benefits and limitations of questionnaires that are currently in use. This review encompasses three categories of metamemory questionnaires: self-efficacy, complaints, and multidimensional questionnaires. Factors influencing self-evaluation of memory including knowledge and beliefs about memory, ability to evaluate memory, recent metamemory experiences, and affect are examined. The relationship between subjective and objective memory measures is explored, and considerations for future development and use of metamemory questionnaires are provided.

Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the everyday memory questionnaire - revised (EMQ-R) among the Lebanese population

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Everyday Memory Questionnaire- Revised (EMQ-R-A) in a sample of Lebanese adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2023. A diverse sample of 483 Lebanese adults aged 18 to 60 years from all Lebanese governorates was recruited. Participants completed an Arabic-language questionnaire comprising three sections: socio-demographic characteristics, health-related inquiries, the EMQ-R-A and the Arabic version of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ). Results: The study's findings indicated that the EMQ-R-A displayed strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.925). Convergent validity was supported by a significant correlation with PRMQ. Test-retest results demonstrated strong reliability with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.925. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a three-factor model including retrieval related factors, attentional tracking related factors, and other factors. The factors labeled "Retrieval" and "Attentional Tracking" elucidate aspects of memory retrieval system efficacy and attention-related challenges. Higher EMQ-R-A scores were found to be associated with the female gender, lower attention, physical inactivity, lower educational levels, and higher number of comorbid disorders. Conclusion: The EMQ-R-A exhibits good validity and reliability. The identified factors associated with memory decline underscore the importance of addressing lifestyle factors, such as promoting physical activity, better educational attainment, and addressing comorbid health conditions, to potentially mitigate memory challenges.

Evaluation of the Everyday Memory Questionnaire-Revised in a menopausal population: understanding the brain fog during menopause

OBJECTIVE

Brain fog (ie, memory complaints and concentration difficulties) is frequently reported during the menopausal transition. There is lack of standardized scales available to measure brain fog across the menopausal transition. This study aimed to evaluate the factor structure of the Everyday Memory Questionnaire-Revised (EMQ-R) and to determine the most commonly reported everyday cognitive symptoms in a menopausal population.

METHODS

Four hundred seventeen eligible women aged from 40 to 60 years (107 premenopausal, 149 perimenopausal, and 161 early postmenopausal) were recruited from the general community and were included in the analyses. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the model fit of the bifactor structure (ie, 4-item attentional subscale ranged 0-16, 7-item retrieval subscale ranged 0-28) of the 13-item EMQ-R (ranged 0-52) in a menopausal populations. Typical items in the retrieval subscale include "difficulty finding words," the attentional subscale include "difficulty following the thread of a story," and analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of covariance were used to investigate the group differences of individual items and two subscales.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis indicated the bifactor structure of the EMQ-R has a good fit in all three groups. A significant difference was identified in the mean retrieval scores (pre: 11.8, peri: 13.6, early post: 11.7) but not in the mean attentional scores (pre: 4.53, peri: 5.01, early post: 4.65).

CONCLUSIONS

The EMQ-R retrieval subscale may serve as a potential instrument to assess memory retrieval symptoms that contribute to "brain fog" in menopause. Increased memory retrieval complaints reported by the perimenopausal group suggests a transition-related memory retrieval dysfunction during menopausal transition.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the Persian version of Everyday Memory Questionnaire-Revised (EMQ-R) in patients with multiple sclerosis

PURPOSE

The present research translated and validated the Persian version of the Everyday Memory Questionnaire-Revised (EMQ-R) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHODS

A two-step study was performed in the current work. First, the scale was translated and culturally adopted to Persian. In the second step, the translated questionnaire was presented to 150 patients with MS and 50 individuals in the control group. Then, construct validity (factor analysis and clinical validity) and reliability measures (test-retest reliability and internal consistency) were computed for this questionnaire.

RESULTS

Patients with MS obtained higher scores in EMQ-R than the control group (p < .001). The findings of the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett test approved the sampling adequacy for computing the factor analysis (p < .001). The accuracy of the three-dimensional structure was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Findings of test-retest (ICC = .95, 95%CI .91-.98, p < .001) and internal consistency revealed a satisfactory value (α = .95, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Satisfactory findings for construct validity and high values for reliability revealed that the Persian version of EMQ-R is a reliable and valid scale to measure the everyday memory of patients with MS in the cognitive assessments of this group.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONPersian EMQ-R is a valid, reliable, fast, and easy to administer tool for evaluating the beliefs and insights of patients suffering from MS or other clinical conditions about their cognitive dysfunctions, in day-to-day lives with some differentiation between memory and attentional difficulties. This questionnaire can be a practical clinical tool for the assessment of the cognitive deficits, which might not be detected via formal neuropsychological assessments, and could be a valuable scale to measure the effects of treatment approaches to level up memory function in a way that could be generalized to daily life performance.

Self-reported symptoms of developmental dyslexia predict impairments in everyday cognition in adults

BACKGROUND

Research into the impact of dyslexia on everyday cognition in adults with dyslexia is relatively limited and has tended to focus on university students.

AIMS AND METHODS

The present online study aimed to add to this small corpus by investigating the everyday effects of dyslexia on memory and attention in a larger community-based sample. One hundred and seventy-two adult volunteers completed five well-established self-report questionnaires, assessing dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptomatology and everyday experiences with memory, attention, and mind-wandering.

RESULTS

After controlling for ADHD symptomatology, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that higher levels of dyslexia-related symptomatology were associated with greater, more frequent everyday memory and attentional problems, but not with a greater propensity to mind-wandering. Increased levels of dyslexia symptomatology were positively associated with the frequency of both everyday attentional lapses (at least when performing a pair of tasks or easy tasks while inhibiting intervening stimuli) and everyday memory failures. No significant associations were found between dyslexia symptomatology and attentional lapses when performing difficult tasks in the presence of concurrent stimuli or between dyslexia symptomatology and the propensity to mind-wandering.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Dyslexia symptomatology was perceived as being associated with more everyday memory and attention problems in adulthood. Adjustments to educational and workplace settings and interventions to compensate for these difficulties are proposed.

Evaluating telehealth delivery of a compensatory memory rehabilitation programme following stroke: A single-case experimental design

Rehabilitation of memory remains an unmet need for many stroke survivors. Telehealth methods may provide a solution, however evidence supporting the efficacy of remotely-delivered therapy is needed. A non-concurrent multiple baseline design was used with randomized onset of intervention across five individuals with chronic stroke-related memory complaints. A six-week compensatory memory skills programme was delivered individually via internet videoconferencing. Target behaviours of frequencies of self-reported lapses of everyday and prospective memory were measured weekly across baseline, intervention, and follow-up phases. A secondary outcome of functional goal attainment was measured once per phase, with participants setting two personal rehabilitation goals. Data were analysed visually and statistically. Improvements in memory functioning were statistically significant on at least one measure of target behaviour for four out of five participants at intervention or follow-up. Visual evidence of level change indicated at least modest improvements for all participants by follow-up. All participants attained at least one functional goal by follow-up. High rates of treatment adherence and participant satisfaction were observed. Technological issues were minimal and did not impact content delivery or engagement. These results provide preliminary support for the efficacy of a telehealth-delivered rehabilitation programme in improving memory function and achieving memory-related goals for stroke survivors.

Visual, Verbal and Everyday Memory 2 Years After Bariatric Surgery: Poorer Memory Performance at 1-Year Follow-Up

Severe obesity has been associated with reduced performance on tests of verbal memory in bariatric surgery candidates. There is also some evidence that bariatric surgery leads to improved verbal memory, yet these findings need further elucidation. Little is known regarding postoperative memory changes in the visual domain and how patients subjectively experience their everyday memory after surgery. The aim of the current study was to repeat and extend prior findings on postoperative memory by investigating visual, verbal, and self-reported everyday memory following surgery, and to examine whether weight loss and somatic comorbidity predict memory performance. The study was a prospective, observational study in which participants (n = 48) underwent cognitive testing at baseline, 1 and 2 years after bariatric surgery. Repeated measures analyses of variance revealed significantly poorer visual and verbal memory performance at the 1-year follow-up, with performance subsequently returning to baseline levels after 2 years. Verbal learning and self-reported everyday memory did not show significant postoperative changes. Memory performance at 1 year was not significantly predicted by weight loss, changes in C-reactive protein levels or postoperative somatic comorbidity (Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and hypertension). The study demonstrated poorer visual and verbal memory performance at 1-year follow-up that returned to baseline levels after 2 years. These findings are in contrast to most previous studies and require further replication, however, the results indicate that postoperative memory improvements following bariatric surgery are not universal. Findings suggest that treatment providers should also be aware of patients potentially having poorer memory at 1 year following surgery.