Reliability and construct validity of the Italian version of AMAT scale in SBMA subjects.

Overview

1. Laboratory of Neurological Disorders, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, VIA Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milano, Italy
2. Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS and Neurological Clinical Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
3. Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
4. Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Azienda Ospedale Università, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Via Nicolo’ Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy

Abstract

Background: Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA) is a rare X-linked polyglutamine disorder characterized by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the androgen receptor gene. This leads to progressive lower motor neuron degeneration and skeletal muscle atrophy. Given the need for sensitive outcome measures in clinical trials, this study aimed to perform the linguistic adaptation and psychometric validation of the Adult Myopathy Assessment Tool (AMAT) for the Italian population.

Methods: Following a rigorous forward-back translation protocol to ensure semantic and conceptual equivalence, the Italian AMAT was administered to 29 patients. The validation process assessed internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), inter-rater and intra-rater reliability, and construct validity. The latter was evaluated through correlations with established clinical markers, including the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), the SBMA Functional Rating Scale (SBMAFRS), and the ALSAQ-40 scale.

Results: Psychometric analysis revealed excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability and strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.70). Construct validity was confirmed through significant correlations with established functional markers, including the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and the SBMA Functional Rating Scale (SBMAFRS), while the expected negative correlations with ALSAQ-40 scale physical domains—coupled with a lack of correlation with the communication domain—affirmed divergent validity.

Conclusions: The Italian version of the AMAT is a reliable and valid instrument for quantifying functional impairment and endurance in SBMA. Its implementation facilitates standardized longitudinal assessment and enhances the feasibility of cross-national collaborative research.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10072-026-09052-x.

Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.

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Data

Datasets cited

• zenodo.org/communities/irfmn-irccs, at zenodo.org; found in “Data availability”

Data availability

Anonymized data are available from the corresponding author upon request. The dataset generated in this study is available in the Zenodo repository https://zenodo.org/communities/irfmn-irccs?q=&l=list&p=1&s=10&sort=newest .

Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.

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Version 2, 28 September 2026

• Publisher: n/a → Springer Science+Business Media

Version 1, 28 September 2026: the first record

Recorded: type, language, journal, volume, issue, pages, dates, 8 authors, 4 keywords, 11 MeSH terms, 1 funder, 12 references.

Cite

This paper

Pupillo, E., Bianchi, E., Leone, M. A., Paganoni, S., Romito, A., Paredi, F., Minicuci, G. M., & Sorarù, G. (2026). Reliability and construct validity of the Italian version of AMAT scale in SBMA subjects. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 47(5), 470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-026-09052-x

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