Instruments for Measuring Episodic Memory and its Psychometric Properties: a Systematic Review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e41302.en

Keywords:

Episodic memory, Aging, Psychometry, Measurement

Abstract

There are changes in episodic memory during healthy or pathological cognitive aging. This study aimed to verify which instruments were most used to assess this cognitive domain in older adults in the last ten years, evaluating their psychometric parameters. A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA recommendations, and 3,203 articles were identified in Pubmed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Forty-eight of these met the eligibility criteria for analysis. The most frequently used instruments were RAVLT, FCSRT, and EBMT. The results suggested good psychometric properties for the episodic memory tests, although there is still room for adaptation, construction, and validation of new tests appropriated for the Brazilian context.

References

Baddeley, A. (2011). Memória episódica: organizando e lembrando. In A., Baddeley, M., Anderson, & M. W., Eysenck (Eds.), Memória (pp. 15-30). Artmed.

Bensalem, J., Dudonné, S., Etchamendy, N., Pellay, H., Amadieu, C., Gaud, S., et al. (2019). Polyphenols from grape and blueberry improve episodic memory in healthy elderly with lower level of memory performance: A bicentric double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study. Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 74(7), 996-1007. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/gly166

https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/gly166

Buschke, H. (1984). Cued recall in amnesia. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 6(4), 433-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/01688638408401233

https://doi.org/10.1080/01688638408401233

Craik, F. I. M. (1986). A functional account of age differences in memory. In F. Klix & H. Hagendorf (Eds.), Human memory and cognitive capabilities: Mechanisms and performances (Vol. 5, pp. 409-422). North-Holland.

* Chen, S. D., Li, H. Q., Shen, X. N., Li, J. Q., Xu, W., Huang, Y. Y., Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. (2020). Genome-wide association study identifies SLAMF1 affecting the rate of memory decline. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 74(1), 139-149. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-191214

https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-191214

* Cheng, X., Yang, Y., Schwebel, D. C., Liu, Z., Li, L., Cheng, P., Hu, G. (2020). Population ageing and mortality during 1990-2017: A global decomposition analysis. PLOS Medicine, 17(6), e1003138. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003138

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003138

Cotta, M. F., Malloy-Diniz, L. F., Nicolato, R., de Moraes, E. N., Rocha, F. L., & de Paula, J. J. (2012). O Teste de Aprendizagem Auditivo-Verbal de Rey (RAVLT) no diagnóstico diferencial do envelhecimento cognitivo normal e patológico. Contextos Clínicos, 5(1), 10-25. https://doi.org/10.4013/ctc.2012.51.02

https://doi.org/10.4013/ctc.2012.51.02

* De Paula, J. J., Bertola, L., Avila, R. T., Moreira, L., Coutinho, G., de Moraes, E. N., & Malloy-Diniz, L. F. (2013). Clinical applicability and cutoff values for an unstructured neuropsychological assessment protocol for older adults with low formal education. PLOS ONE, 8(9), e73167. https://doi.org/10.1371/annotation/2a374fe8-6d25-45cb-b97b-a5ca1529aa14

https://doi.org/10.1371/annotation/2a374fe8-6d25-45cb-b97b-a5ca1529aa14

De Paula, J. J. D., Melo, L. P. C., Nicolato, R., Moraes, E. N. D., Bicalho, M. A., Hamdan, A. C., & Malloy-Diniz, L. F. (2012). Fidedignidade e validade de construto do Teste de Aprendizagem Auditivo-Verbal de Rey em idosos brasileiros. Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo), 39, 19-23. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832012000100004

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832012000100004

De Paula, J. J., & Malloy-Diniz, L. F. (2018). Manual do Teste de Aprendizagem Auditivo-Verbal de Rey Vetor.

De Sousa Magalhães, S., Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, L., & Cavalheiro Hamdan, A. (2012). Validity convergent and reliability test-retest of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 9(3), 129-137.

* Ernst, M. E., Ryan, J., Chowdhury, E. K., Margolis, K. L., Beilin, L. J., Reid, C. M., & Murray, A. M. (2021). Long-term blood pressure variability and risk of cognitive decline and dementia among older adults. Journal of the American Heart Association, 10(13), e019613. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.019613

https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.019613

* Farina, M., Breno Costa, D., Webber de Oliveira, J. A., Polidoro Lima, M., Machado, W. D. L., Moret-Tatay, C., & Irigaray, T. Q. (2020). Cognitive function of Brazilian elderly persons: Longitudinal study with non-clinical community sample. Aging & Mental Health, 24(11), 1807-1814. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1636203

https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1636203

Friedman, D., de Chastelaine, M., Nessler, D., & Malcolm, B. (2010). Changes in familiarity and recollection across the lifespan: An ERP perspective. Brain Research, 1310, 124-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2009.11.016

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2009.11.016

Galvão, T. F., Pansani, T. S. A., & Harrad, D. (2015). Principais itens para relatar revisões sistemáticas e meta-análises: A recomendação PRISMA. Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde, 24(2), 335-342. https://doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742015000200017

https://doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742015000200017

* Ge, S., Wu, B., Bailey Jr, D. E., & Dong, X. (2017). Social support, social strain, and cognitive function among community-dwelling US Chinese older adults. Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Biomedical Sciences and Medical Sciences, 72(suppl_1), S16-S21. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glw221

https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glw221

* Gevins, A., Ilan, A. B., Jiang, A., Chan, C. S., Gelinas, D., Smith, M. E., & O’Hara, R. (2011). A method to combine cognitive and neurophysiological assessments of the elderly. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 31(1), 7-19. https://doi.org/10.1159/000322108

https://doi.org/10.1159/000322108

Gfeller, J. D., & Horn, G. J. (1996). The East Boston Memory Test: A clinical screening measure for memory impairment in the elderly. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 52(2), 191-196. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4679(199603)52:2<191::AID-JCLP10>3.0.CO;2-F

https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4679(199603)52:2<191::AID-JCLP10>3.0.CO;2-F

Gifforda, K., Dandan, L., Damona, S., Chapman, W., Romano, R., Samuel, L., & Jefferson, A. (2015). Subjective memory complaint only relates to verbal episodic memory performance in mild cognitive impairment. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease , 44(1), 309-318. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-140636

https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-140636

Gomes, C. F. A., Brainerd, C. J., Nakamura, K., & Reyna, V. F. (2014). Markovian interpretations of dual retrieval processes. Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 59, 50-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmp.2013.07.003

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmp.2013.07.003

Grober, E., & Buschke, H. (1987). Genuine memory deficits in dementia. Developmental Neuropsychology, 3(1), 13-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/87565648709540361

https://doi.org/10.1080/87565648709540361

Grober, E., Gitlin, H. L., Bang, S., & Buschke, H. (1992). Implicit and explicit memory in young, old, and demented adults. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 14(2), 298-316. https://doi.org/10.1080/01688639208402830

https://doi.org/10.1080/01688639208402830

Grober, E., Ocepek-Welikson, K., & Teresi, J. A. (2009). The Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test: Evidence of psychometric adequacy. Psychology Science Quarterly, 51(3), 266-282.

* Gross, A. L., & Rebok, G. W. (2011). Memory training and strategy use in older adults: Results from the ACTIVE study. Psychology and Aging, 26(3), 503-517. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022687

https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022687

*Grotz, C., Matharan, F., Amieva, H., Pérès, K., Laberon, S., Vonthron, A. M., & Letenneur, L. (2017). Psychological transition and adjustment processes related to retirement: Influence on cognitive functioning. Aging & Mental Health , 21(12), 1310-1316. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2016.1220920

https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2016.1220920

* Guerrero-Berroa, E., Ravona-Springer, R., Heymann, A., Schmeidler, J., Levy, A., Leroith, D., & Beeri, M. S. (2015). Haptoglobin genotype modulates the relationships of glycemic control with cognitive function in elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia, 58(4), 736-744. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-014-3487-2

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-014-3487-2

Ivnik, R. J., Smith, G. E., Lucas, J. A., Tangalos, E. G., Kokmen, E., & Petersen, R. C. (1997). Free and cued selective reminding test: MOANS norms. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 19(5), 676-691. https://doi.org/10.1080/01688639708403753

https://doi.org/10.1080/01688639708403753

Jacoby, L. L. (1991). A process dissociation framework: Separating automatic from intentional uses of memory. Journal of Memory and Language, 30, 513-541. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-596X(91)90025-F

https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-596X(91)90025-F

A., Júnior C., & Faria, N. (2015). Memória. Psicologia Reflexão Crítica, 28(4). https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-7153.201528416

https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-7153.201528416

*Klaming, R., Annese, J., Veltman, D. J., & Comijs, H. C. (2017). Episodic memory function is affected by lifestyle factors: a 14-year follow-up study in an elderly population. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 24(5), 528-542. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2016.1226746

https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2016.1226746

Lee, J. K., Wendelken, C., Bunge, S. A., & Ghetti, S. (2016). A time and place for everything: Developmental differences in the building blocks of episodic memory. Child Development, 87(1), 194-210. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12447

https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12447

Lezak, M. D., Howieson, D. B., Loring, D. W., & Fischer, J. S. (2004). Neuropsychological assessment (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Maillet, D., Narme, P., Amieva, H., Matharan, F., Bailon, O., Le Clésiau, H., & Belin, C. (2017). The TMA-93: A new memory test for Alzheimer’s disease in illiterate and less educated people. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias® , 32(8), 461-467. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317517722630

https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317517722630

Malloy-Diniz, L.F., da Cruz, M.F., Torres, V., & Cosenza, R. (2000). O teste de Aprendizagem Auditivo-Verbal de Rey: Normas para uma população brasileira. Revista Brasileira de Neurologia, 36(3),79-83.

Malloy-Diniz, L. F., Lasmar, V. A. P., Gazinelli, L. D. S. R., Fuentes, D., & Salgado, J. V. (2007). The Rey auditory-verbal learning test: Applicability for the Brazilian elderly population. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 29, 324-329. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-44462006005000053

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-44462006005000053

Mandler, G. (1980). Recognizing: the judgment of previous occurrence. Psychological Review, 87, 252-271. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.87.3.252

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.87.3.252

* Messinis, L., Nasios, G., Mougias, A., Politis, A., Zampakis, P., Tsiamaki, E., & Papathanasopoulos, P. (2016). Age and education adjusted normative data and discriminative validity for Rey’s Auditory Verbal Learning Test in the elderly Greek population. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology , 38(1), 23-39. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2015.1085496

https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2015.1085496

* Meyer, S. R. A., Boelaarts, L., Lindeboom, J., De Jonghe, J. F., & Ponds, R. (2020). Episodic recognition memory based on incidental learning of visual associations is largely preserved compared to recall in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2019.1703705

https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2019.1703705

* Meyer, S. R., Spaan, P. E., Boelaarts, L., Ponds, R. W., Schmand, B., & de Jonghe, J. F. (2016). Visual associations cued recall: A paradigm for measuring episodic memory decline in Alzheimer’s disease. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 23(5), 566-577. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2015.1132667

https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2015.1132667

* Morris, J. K., Vidoni, E. D., Mahnken, J. D., Montgomery, R. N., Johnson, D. K., Thyfault, J. P., & Burns, J. M. (2016). Cognitively impaired elderly exhibit insulin resistance and no memory improvement with infused insulin. Neurobiology of Aging, 39, 19-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.11.005

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.11.005

Nyberg, L., Lövdén, M., Riklund, K., Lindenberger, U., & Bäckman, L. (2012). Memory aging and brain maintenance. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16(5), 292-305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2012.04.005

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2012.04.005

Raj, D., Santhi, S., & Sapharina, G. J. S. (2021). Effectiveness of neurobic exercise program on memory and depression among elderly residing at old age home. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 17(4). https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2019-0221

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2019-0221

*Ravona-Springer, R., Heymann, A., Schmeidler, J., Sano, M., Preiss, R., Koifman, K., & Beeri, M. S. (2014). The ApoE4 genotype modifies the relationship of long-term glycemic control with cognitive functioning in elderly with type 2 diabetes. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 24(8), 1303-1308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.05.001

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.05.001

* Requier, F., Hendy, A. S., Schlosser, M., Demnitz-King, H., Whitfield, T., Chételat, G., & Collette, F. (2023). Association between meditative capacities and cognitive functions in healthy older adults naïve to meditation practice. Mindfulness, 14(3), 695-707. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02077-9

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02077-9

Rey, A. (1964). L'examen clinique en psychologie Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.

* Riaz, M., Huq, A., Ryan, J., Orchard, S. G., Tiller, J., Lockery, J., & Lacaze, P. (2021). Effect of APOE and a polygenic risk score on incident dementia and cognitive decline in a healthy older population. Aging Cell, 20(6), e13384. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13384

https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13384

* Rocha, F. D. S., & Chariglione, I. P. F. S. (2021). Episodic memory and elderly people: Main alterations from different cognitive interventions. Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa, 36, e3637. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e3637

https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e3637

Rodrigues, G. S., & Jaeger, A. (2018). O Uso de Tarefas Experimentais para o Estudo da Memória Episódica. Ciências & Cognição, 23(1). Recuperado de http://revista.cienciasecognicao.org/index.php/cec/article/view/1371

http://revista.cienciasecognicao.org/index.php/cec/article/view/1371

* Ruan, Q., Xiao, F., Gong, K., Zhang, W., Zhang, M., Ruan, J., & Yu, Z. (2020). Demographically corrected normative Z scores on the neuropsychological test battery in cognitively normal older Chinese adults. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders , 49(4), 375-383. https://doi.org/10.1159/000508171

https://doi.org/10.1159/000508171

Scherr, P. A., Albert, M. S., Funkenstein, H. H., Cook, N. R., Hennekens, C. H., Branch, L. G., & Evans, D. A. (1988). Correlates of cognitive function in an elderly community population. American Journal of Epidemiology, 128(5), 1084-1101. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a115279

https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a115279

Shing, Y. L., Werkle-Bergner, M., Brehmer, Y., Müller, V., Li, S. C., & Lindenberger, U. (2010). Episodic memory across the lifespan: The contributions of associative and strategic components. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 34(7), 1080-1091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.04.002

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.04.002

Squire, L. R. (1992). Declarative and nondeclarative memory: Multiple brain systems supporting learning and memory. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 4(3), 232-243. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.1992.4.3.232

https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.1992.4.3.232

* Striepens, N., Scheef, L., Wind, A., Meiberth, D., Popp, J., Spottke, A., & Jessen, F. (2011). Interaction effects of subjective memory impairment and ApoE4 genotype on episodic memory and hippocampal volume. Psychological Medicine, 41(9), 1997-2006. https://doi.org/ 10.1017/S0033291711000067

https://doi.org/ 10.1017/S0033291711000067

Tripathi, R., Kumar, J. K., Bharath, S., Marimuthu, P., & Varghese, M. (2013). Clinical validity of NIMHANS neuropsychological battery for elderly: A preliminary report. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 55(3), 279. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.117149

https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.117149

Tulving, E. (1972). Episodic and semantic memory. In E. Tulving & W. Donaldson (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of memory (pp. 245-261). Oxford University Press.

Tulving, E. (2002). Episodic memory: From mind to brain. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135114

https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135114

* Volz-Sidiropoulou, E., & Gauggel, S. (2012). Do subjective measures of attention and memory predict actual performance? Metacognition in older couples Psychology and Aging , 27(2), 440-448. https://doi.org/ 10.1037/a0025384

https://doi.org/ 10.1037/a0025384

* Wang, X., Li, T., Zhang, H., Sun, T., Xiong, L., Zhang, Y., & Wang, H. (2019). Validation of the Chinese version of the memory binding test for distinguishing amnestic mild cognitive impairment from cognitively normal elderly individuals. International Psychogeriatrics, 31(12), 1721-1730. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610219001649

https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610219001649

Yonelinas, A. P. (1994). Receiver-operating characteristics in recognition memory: Evidence for a dual-process model. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 20(6), 1341-1354. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.20.6.1341

https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.20.6.1341

* Zhang, W., Tang, F., Chen, Y., Silverstein, M., Liu, S., & Dong, X. (2019). Education, activity engagement, and cognitive function in US Chinese older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67(S3), S525-S531. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15560

https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15560

Downloads

Published

2026-02-03

Issue

Section

Artigos