Development of a subjective cognitive decline questionnaire using item response theory: a pilot study

Katherine A Gifford, Dandan Liu, Raymond Romano 3rd, Richard N Jones, Angela L Jefferson, Katherine A Gifford, Dandan Liu, Raymond Romano 3rd, Richard N Jones, Angela L Jefferson

Abstract

Background: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may indicate unhealthy cognitive changes, but no standardized SCD measurement exists. This pilot study aims to identify reliable SCD questions.

Methods: 112 cognitively normal (NC, 76±8 years, 63% female), 43 mild cognitive impairment (MCI; 77±7 years, 51% female), and 33 diagnostically ambiguous participants (79±9 years, 58% female) were recruited from a research registry and completed 57 self-report SCD questions. Psychometric methods were used for item-reduction.

Results: Factor analytic models assessed unidimensionality of the latent trait (SCD); 19 items were removed with extreme response distribution or trait-fit. Item response theory (IRT) provided information about question utility; 17 items with low information were dropped. Post-hoc simulation using computerized adaptive test (CAT) modeling selected the most commonly used items (n=9 of 21 items) that represented the latent trait well (r=0.94) and differentiated NC from MCI participants (F(1,146)=8.9, p=0.003).

Conclusion: Item response theory and computerized adaptive test modeling identified nine reliable SCD items. This pilot study is a first step toward refining SCD assessment in older adults. Replication of these findings and validation with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers will be an important next step for the creation of a SCD screener.

Keywords: Subjective cognitive decline; computerized adaptive testing; factor analysis; item-response theory; mild cognitive impairment; psychometrics.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Item reduction process. Abbreviations: SCD, subjective cognitive decline.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Test information curves for the bank and selected SCD items. Abbreviations: SCD, subjective cognitive decline; MCI, mild cognitive impairment; NC, cognitively normal; 10th MCI, 10th percentile of SCD ability score for MCI; 90th NC, 90th percentile of SCD ability score for NC.

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