Measurement of everyday dysexecutive symptoms in normal aging with the Greek version of the dysexecutive questionnaire-revised

ABSTRACT

The Dysexecutive Questionnaire is a sensitive and ecologically valid measure of everyday dysexecutive symptoms. Recently, a revised version of the tool has been proposed (DEX-R). The current study aimed to examine the factorial validity of the Greek DEX-R, the level of agreement between the self and informant rating versions and the effect of age on each dysexecutive symptoms component. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of older adults (n = 235) and to a sample of informants (n = 187) in the context of the Neurocognitive Study for the Aging in Cyprus. Confirmatory Factor Analysis results showed that dysexecutive symptoms can be grouped into three underlying components or factors: (a) Motivation and Attention, (b) Flexibility, Fluency and Working Memory, and (c) Social Self-Regulation. Overall, the elderly reported more symptoms than their relatives, however the difference was significant only for the Flexibility, Fluency and Working memory factor. In a structural equation model, a weak positive effect of age was observed on the Flexibility, Fluency and Working Memory factor, based on the informant ratings. This study provides empirical evidence about the use of the DEX-R questionnaire in the Greek-speaking elderly population as a valid and reliable measure of everyday dysexecutive symptoms.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging
• Executive functions
• Dysexecutive Questionnaire-Revised
• Confirmatory factor analysis
• Structural equation modelling

Acknowledgements

This paper is based on a masters thesis written by M. D. at the University of Cyprus; M. D. is currently at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. The authors would like to thank the many volunteers and their families for participating in this project. We are indebted to the staff from the adult community centres and pensioners unions who assisted our research teams in the recruitment of study participants and facilitated our extensive testing processes throughout Cyprus. Additionally, we are very thankful to the many undergraduate and graduate researchers in the Neurocognitive Research Laboratory at the University of Cyprus who participated in the data collection and data management process through the years.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The validation of the DEX-R in Greek was supported by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation and the European Regional Development Fund though grants cofunded by the Cyprus Government (F.C. principal investigator, Humanities/Society/0308(ΒΕ)/07, New Infrastructure/Strategic/0309/37, SKEPSI K3-01-04). Work by A. B. was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Brain Injury Healthcare Technology Co-operative based at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Cambridge and NIHR CLAHRC East of England based at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust.