A Scale of Modifiable Factors Associated with Brain Health (FMASC): Evidence of Validity and Internal Consistency

Introduction and objectives Several scales assess individually the factors that influence brain health, but no brief instrument integrates multiple domains. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a self-administered scale measuring five factors known to influence brain health. Methods The Scale of Modifiable Factors Associated with Brain Health (FMASC) was developed by selecting representative items from validated instruments (IPAQ, González et al. self-test, ISI, Duke-UNC-11 and SWLS) and refined through a 14-expert panel review. It assesses physical activity, diet, sleep, social support and life satisfaction. It was administered alongside the full original scales in a sample of 2,432 adults. Internal consistency and convergent validity were assessed. Results Convergent validity was statistically significant for all five factors (all p < 0.001), with Spearman correlations of moderate to high magnitude. Internal consistency, estimated with Cronbach's alpha, ranged from 0.64 to 0.92 across factors. Conclusion The FMASC showed initial evidence of convergent validity against reference instruments and acceptable internal consistency in most of its domains. Clinical relevance and contribution A brief, multidimensional instrument to assess modifiable brain health factors would facilitate their measurement in clinical and research settings with limited resources.