%0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2018 %T Memory Binding Test Predicts Incident Dementia: Results from the Einstein Aging Study. %A Mowrey, Wenzhu B %A Lipton, Richard B %A Katz, Mindy J %A Ramratan, Wendy S %A Loewenstein, David A %A Zimmerman, Molly E %A Buschke, Herman %X

BACKGROUND: The Memory Binding Test (MBT) demonstrated good cross-sectional discriminative validity and predicted incident aMCI.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the MBT predicts incident dementia better than a conventional list learning test in a longitudinal community-based study.

METHODS: As a sub-study in the Einstein Aging Study, 309 participants age≥70 initially free of dementia were administered the MBT and followed annually for incident dementia for up to 13 years. Based on previous work, poor memory binding was defined using an optimal empirical cut-score of≤17 on the binding measure of the MBT, Total Items in the Paired condition (TIP). Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess predictive validity adjusting for covariates. We compared the predictive validity of MBT TIP to that of the free and cued selective reminding test free recall score (FCSRT-FR; cut-score:≤24) and the single list recall measure of the MBT, Cued Recalled from List 1 (CR-L1; cut-score:≤12).

RESULTS: Thirty-five of 309 participants developed incident dementia. When assessing each test alone, the hazard ratio (HR) for dementia was significant for MBT TIP (HR = 8.58, 95% CI: (3.58, 20.58), p < 0.0001), FCSRT-FR (HR = 4.19, 95% CI: (1.94, 9.04), p = 0.0003) and MBT CR-L1 (HR = 2.91, 95% CI: (1.37, 6.18), p = 0.006). MBT TIP remained a significant predictor of dementia (p = 0.0002) when adjusting for FCSRT-FR or CR-L1.

CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with poor memory binding as measured by the MBT TIP were at increased risk for incident dementia. This measure outperforms conventional episodic memory measures of free and cued recall, supporting the memory binding hypothesis.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 62 %P 293-304 %8 2018 %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29439336?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-170714 %0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2016 %T The Memory Binding Test: Development of Two Alternate Forms into Spanish and Catalan. %A Gramunt, Nina %A Sánchez-Benavides, Gonzalo %A Buschke, Herman %A Diéguez-Vide, Faustino %A Peña-Casanova, Jordi %A Masramon, Xavier %A Fauria, Karine %A Gispert, Juan D %A Molinuevo, José L %X

BACKGROUND: The Memory Binding Test (MBT) is emerging as a promising tool for the detection of subtle memory impairment suggestive of Alzheimer's disease (AD). For such a test to be widely accessed and used, the availability of both alternate forms and language adaptations is required.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a thorough methodology for obtaining alternate forms (A and B) of the MBT in Spanish and Catalan and to assess their equivalence.

METHOD: According to the original development of the test, frequency was taken as the lexical variable of reference for the Spanish and Catalan adaptations. A crossed design protocol by form and language was used to compare the MBT results in a sample of 290 cognitively normal middle-aged participants. Pairwise Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) were calculated among the six possible combinations.

RESULTS: The Spanish and Catalan lists of words for the MBT A and B resulting from the adaptation process as well as the original lists in English are presented. ICC indices for the comparisons between forms and languages ranged from 0.56 to 0.82.

CONCLUSION: The MBT A and B in Spanish and Catalan showed similar outcomes and can be considered equivalent. Moreover, the thorough methodology presented here for the transcultural adaptation and equivalence study, could serve as a model for future adaptations of the MBT and other verbal tests.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 52 %P 283-93 %8 2016 03 05 %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27060959?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-151175 %0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2016 %T Memory Binding Test Predicts Incident Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. %A Mowrey, Wenzhu B %A Lipton, Richard B %A Katz, Mindy J %A Ramratan, Wendy S %A Loewenstein, David A %A Zimmerman, Molly E %A Buschke, Herman %X

BACKGROUND: The Memory Binding Test (MBT), previously known as Memory Capacity Test, has demonstrated discriminative validity for distinguishing persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and dementia from cognitively normal elderly.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the predictive validity of the MBT for incident aMCI.

METHODS: In a longitudinal, community-based study of adults aged 70+, we administered the MBT to 246 cognitively normal elderly adults at baseline and followed them annually. Based on previous work, a subtle reduction in memory binding at baseline was defined by a Total Items in the Paired (TIP) condition score of ≤22 on the MBT. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the predictive validity of the MBT for incident aMCI accounting for the effects of covariates. The hazard ratio of incident aMCI was also assessed for different prediction time windows ranging from 4 to 7 years of follow-up, separately.

RESULTS: Among 246 controls who were cognitively normal at baseline, 48 developed incident aMCI during follow-up. A baseline MBT reduction was associated with an increased risk for developing incident aMCI (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.44, 95% confidence interval: 1.30-4.56, p = 0.005). When varying the prediction window from 4-7 years, the MBT reduction remained significant for predicting incident aMCI (HR range: 2.33-3.12, p: 0.0007-0.04).

CONCLUSION: Persons with poor performance on the MBT are at significantly greater risk for developing incident aMCI. High hazard ratios up to seven years of follow-up suggest that the MBT is sensitive to early disease.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 53 %P 1585-95 %8 2016 Jul 14 %G eng %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27540964?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-160291 %0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2016 %T Psychometric Properties of the Memory Binding Test: Test-Retest Reliability and Convergent Validity. %A Gramunt, Nina %A Sánchez-Benavides, Gonzalo %A Buschke, Herman %A Lipton, Richard B %A Masramon, Xavier %A Gispert, Juan D %A Peña-Casanova, Jordi %A Fauria, Karine %A Molinuevo, José L %K Aged %K Alzheimer Disease %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Memory %K Middle Aged %K Psychological Tests %K Psychometrics %K Reproducibility of Results %X

BACKGROUND: Episodic memory testing is fundamental for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) is widely used for this purpose, it may not be sensitive enough for early detection of subtle decline in preclinical AD. The Memory Binding Test (MBT) intends to overcome this limitation.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the test-retest reliability of the MBT and its convergent validity with the FCRST.

METHODS: 36 cognitively healthy participants of the ALFA Study, aged 45 to 65, were included for the test-retest study and 69 for the convergent analysis. They were visited twice in a period of 6 ± 2 weeks. Test-retest reliability was determined by the calculation of the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Score differences were studied by computing the mean percentage of score variation between visits and visualized by Bland-Altman plots. Convergent validity was determined by Pearson's correlations.

RESULTS: ICC values in the test-retest reliability analysis of the MBT direct scores ranged from 0.64 to 0.76. Subjects showed consistent practice effects, with mean amounts of score increasing between 10% and 26%. Pearson correlation between MBT and FCSRT direct scores showed r values between 0.40 and 0.53. The FCSRT displayed ceiling effects not observed in the MBT.

CONCLUSIONS: The MBT shows adequate test-retest reliability and overall moderate convergent validity with the FCSRT. Unlike the FCSRT, the MBT does not have ceiling effects and it may therefore be especially useful in longitudinal studies, facilitating the measurement of subtle memory performance decline and the detection of very early AD.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 50 %P 999-1010 %8 2016 %G eng %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26836167?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-150776