Everyday memory measures in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Everyday memory is significantly impacted in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Assessing memory deficits is vital for monitoring daily life effects and intervention outcomes.
• Standardized measures are needed for reliable evaluation of memory function in MS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review literature on everyday memory measures used in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• To describe the types of measures employed and summarize their psychometric properties.
• To aid researchers and clinicians in selecting appropriate memory assessment tools for MS populations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of empirical studies on cognitive function in MS.
• Searches conducted across major online databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Embase) and Google Scholar.
• Inclusion of studies utilizing standardized everyday memory measures.

Main Results:

• Forty-four studies met the inclusion criteria, identifying 12 distinct everyday memory measures.
• Most studies did not report psychometric properties specific to MS populations.
• Limited data suggests good reliability and apparent face, concurrent, and ecological validity, requiring further investigation.

Conclusions:

• A variety of everyday memory measures are used in MS research, with diverse applications and administration methods.
• There is a notable gap in reported psychometric validation for these measures within MS populations.
• Further research is needed to thoroughly evaluate the psychometric properties of existing measures for use in multiple sclerosis.