Psychometric properties of the Seattle-Groningen Memory Assessment in healthy adults

J Neuropsychol. 2026 Aug 28. doi: 10.1111/jnp.70074. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Brief assessments are increasingly important for scalable and accessible measurement of cognitive function. The Seattle-Groningen Memory Assessment (SGMA) is an accessible memory test that quantifies individual differences in the speed of forgetting through a computational model. Unlike traditional outcome-based screening tools, the SGMA derives a mechanistic memory score from both response accuracy and response latency during an 8-min session. Despite promising clinical and research applications, the psychometric properties of the SGMA have not been systematically evaluated. In this study, 100 healthy young adults completed two SGMA sessions spaced approximately 2 weeks apart, alongside seven neuropsychological tests from the Amsterdam Cognition Scan (ACS) and questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety and stress. The SGMA memory score showed moderate concurrent validity with ACS declarative memory measures and good discriminant validity with respect to attention, processing speed, executive functioning and affective symptoms. Test-retest reliability was moderate to good (ICC3 = .68), and practice effects on the memory score were minimal and well below the minimal detectable change, supporting the suitability of the SGMA for repeated administration. Together, these findings establish the SGMA as a psychometrically sound and repeatable brief memory assessment with strong potential for both research and clinical applications.

PMID:42663533 | DOI:10.1111/jnp.70074