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The value of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (Children's Version) in an epidemiological study of older adults with Down syndrome
Hon J, Huppert FA, Holland AJ, Watson P.. The British journal of clinical psychology, 1998-02-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test for Children (RBMT-C) was used to assess a population-based sample of 74 people with Down syndrome (DS) aged 30 years and over (range 30-65 years) living in the Cambridge health district. Given the high age-specific risk of Alzheimer-like neuropathology in people with DS, the aim of this study was to determine whether this test provided a suitable measure of memory function in an older population of adults with DS who were at the age of risk for Alzheimer's disease. We also investigated whether there was a significant difference in everyday memory performance between different age, gender and day-centre groups. The level of learning disability in our sample ranged from mild, through severe to profound. Individuals with severe or profound learning disability were virtually untestable on this and other cognitive tests, but for the remaining two-thirds of the group, the RBMT-C could be used to assess memory function. Significant differences in memory function were found between younger (30-44 years) and older (45+ years) participants. Performance also varied between groups (e.g. from different day centres), illustrating the importance of population-based samples when determining the value of such tests. Ongoing longitudinal studies are required to establish the extent to which the RBMT-C is useful in assessing change in retrospective and prospective memory.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Hon, J., Huppert, F. A., Holland, A. J., & Watson, P. (1998). The value of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (Children's Version) in an epidemiological study of older adults with Down syndrome. The British journal of clinical psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8260.1998.tb01276.x
Vancouver
Hon J, Huppert FA, Holland AJ, Watson P. The value of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (Children's Version) in an epidemiological study of older adults with Down syndrome. The British journal of clinical psychology. 1998. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.1998.tb01276.x. PMID: 9547957.
BibTeX
@article{hon1998-9547957,
author = {Hon, J. and Huppert, F. A. and Holland, A. J. and Watson, P.},
title = {{The value of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (Children's Version) in an epidemiological study of older adults with Down syndrome}},
journal = {The British journal of clinical psychology},
year = {1998},
doi = {10.1111/j.2044-8260.1998.tb01276.x},
pmid = {9547957},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8260.1998.tb01276.x}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- We also investigated whether there was a significant difference in everyday memory performance between different age, gender and day-centre groups.
- Significant differences in memory function were found between younger (30-44 years) and older (45+ years) participants.
Why it matters
This study assessed whether a children's memory test could measure memory function in older adults with Down syndrome who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease. It found the test was usable for about two-thirds of the group and that memory differed between younger and older participants, but it does not test any treatment or cure.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants74
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The British journal of clinical psychology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | British Journal of Clinical Psychology: journal h-index 146 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1998 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 74 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 29 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 30 year(s) since 1998 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Peter Watson: h-index 46 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Cambridge: institution h-index 1,973 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9547957) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
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