Supplementary Materials - Repeated Self-Assessments of Cognitive Performance in Older Adults

Aims: Self-assessed cognitive performance (SACP) is a key component of neuropsychological assessment in older adults, a population at increased risk for conditions affecting both cognitive ability and self-evaluation. This study compared two common SACP instruments, self-reported everyday cognition (SREC) and task-specific performance estimates (TSPE), examining their psychological and demographic influences, psychometric properties, and stability across repeated administrations. Method: In 166 elderly participants, SACP was assessed twice within five days alongside neuropsychological testing. SREC was measured using the FLei questionnaire, and TSPE was obtained by asking participants to estimate their percentile performance for each subtest based on a normal distribution illustration. Accuracy scores (‘Acc’) were computed by subtracting age-adjusted test results from performance estimates, and inter-measurement changes of SACP (ΔTSPE, ΔSREC) and performance (ΔT) were calculated. These scores were correlated with demographic (age, gender) and psychological factors (education, depression, social desirability). Stepwise regression models assessed instrument-, domain-, and session-specific associations between estimated and objective performance, examining consistency and criterion validity. Results: SREC-Acc correlated negatively with social desirability and positively with depression, while TSPE-Acc correlated positively with male gender. ΔT correlated positively with education and ΔTSPE, and ΔTSPE was positively associated with ΔSREC. Regression analyses revealed valid associations between TSPE and objective cognitive performance in the domains of memory and executive function at both measurement points. Discussion: Psychosocial factors differentially affect the accuracy of two SACP measures in older adults, suggesting that each taps distinct (meta-)cognitive mechanisms. However, as ΔTSPE tracks inter-measurement performance gains, its influence on ΔSREC indicates a link between these metacognitive measures. While SACP-induced prolonged task completion may limit TSPE’s ability to capture attentional performance, its consistent associations with memory and executive function across sessions support TSPE as a valid tool for repeated self-reporting in older adults, for example, to evaluate intervention outcomes or drug regimen changes.