Development of the Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuropsychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Subjective memory complaints (SMC) are common in aging populations.
• Accurate assessment tools are crucial for early detection of cognitive decline.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire (SMCQ).
• To establish the reliability, validity, and diagnostic accuracy of the SMCQ for assessing subjective memory issues.

Main Methods:

• Reliability was assessed using internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients).
• Concurrent and construct validity were examined using Pearson correlations and confirmatory factor analysis.
• Diagnostic ability for dementia was evaluated via receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.

Main Results:

• The SMCQ demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.864) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.828).
• Significant correlations were found between SMCQ scores and established measures of memory complaints and cognitive function (p < 0.01).
• Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor structure (general and everyday memory), and ROC analysis showed high diagnostic ability (AUC = 0.84).

Conclusions:

• The SMCQ is a brief, reliable, and valid instrument for evaluating subjective memory complaints.
• The questionnaire is potentially useful for cognitive assessment in elderly individuals, especially when informant data is unavailable.