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BACKGROUND: Hispanics are the largest growing ethnic minority group in the U.S. Despite significant progress in providing norms for this population, updated normative data are essential. OBJECTIVE: To present the methodology for a study generating normative neuropsychological test data for Spanish-speaking adults living in the U.S. using Bayesian inference as a novel approach. METHODS: The sample consisted of 253 healthy adults from eight U.S. regions, with individuals originating from a diverse array of Latin American countries. To participate, individuals must have met the following criteria: were between 18 and 80 years of age, had lived in the U.S. for at least 1 year, self-identified Spanish as their dominant language, had at least one year of formal education, were able to read and write in Spanish at the time of evaluation, scored≥23 on the Mini-Mental State Examination, <10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire– 9, and <10 on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. Participants completed 12 neuropsychological tests. Reliability statistics and norms were calculated for all tests. CONCLUSION: This is the first normative study for Spanish-speaking adults in the U.S. that uses Bayesian linear or generalized linear regression models for generating norms in neuropsychology, implementing sociocultural measures as possible covariates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Linguistic deficits are common across neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. Currently there are limited neuropsychological norms available for Spanish-speaking adults residing in the U.S. OBJECTIVE: To generate norms for two verbal fluency tests and the Boston Naming Test (BNT) in a Spanish-speaking population in the U.S., with adjustments for demographic and cultural variables. METHODS: The sample consisted of 245 adults from the U.S. Participants completed phonological and semantic verbal fluency tests and the BNT. A standardized four-step statistical procedure was used. RESULTS: For the phoneme F, interactions between Spanish proficiency, age, and education arose. Better performance on phonemes A, S, and M was related to education. Spanish proficiency, acculturation, and time in the U.S. were associated with the phonemes S, A, P, M, and R. An age by education interaction was found for phonemes M and R. The FAS and PMR triads were related to age, sex, time in U.S., and Spanish proficiency. For the semantic verbal fluency tests, an interaction between education and Spanish proficiency arose. For the BNT, test scores were related to education, and significant interactions were also found based on education's interaction with Spanish proficiency and acculturation. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of accounting for sociodemographic and acculturative factors when developing normative data for verbal fluency tests and the BNT for dominant Spanish-speaking adults in the U.S. These sociodemographically-adjusted norms will help improve accuracy of diagnosis and interpretation of linguistic test performance in Spanish speakers living in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Computerized neuropsychological tests provide advantages to clinicians with cost, administration, and time. However, studies have pointed out performance differences between manual and computerized versions of some neuropsychological tests. One of these is the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Due to the performance difference, the normative data of manual tests cannot be used for their computerized versions. Therefore, normative data searches are needed for computerized versions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the norm values of WCST-CV in a healthy sample. METHODS: 422 healthy adults aged 18–78 participated in this study. WCST-CVsub-scores are modeled by Regression Analysis based on Age and Education level to generate normative data. Among the 13 WCST scores, the regression models for WCST 2, WCST 3, WCST 4, WCST 10, and WCST 11 are significant. WCST 2, WCST 4, and WCST 11 scores are estimated with Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). However, WCST 3 and WCST 10 scores are estimated with Weighted Least Squares (WLS) due to the violation of the homoscedasticity assumption. RESULTS: The regression results show that p-values calculated from error increase as age and education level increase. CONCLUSION: As a result of our research, norm values between 18–78 years of age were produced using RA. It was determined that gender was not significant for any sub-score. Therefore, only age and education level from socio-demographic variables were included in the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cross-Cultural Dementia Screening (CCD), Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS), and European Cross-cultural Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB) are three novel neuropsychological instruments developed from a cross-cultural perspective to reduce the impact of culture in cognitive assessment and improve the assessment in diverse populations. Objective: We aimed to collect and present normative data on these tests in a majority population sample (Spaniards living in Spain) and in a minority population sample (Colombians living in Spain). Methods: CCD, RUDAS, and CNTB were administered to a group of 300 cognitively healthy participants (150 Spaniards and 150 Colombians). Linear regression modeling strategy was used to provide adjusted norms for demographic factors and to explore the influence of these factors on test performance. Results: Most of the CCD and CNTB scores were predicted by age and years of education, with some tests only predicted by age or showing a ceiling effect. The comparison of normative data between the two samples confirmed the favorable cross-cultural properties of these instruments, with only some differences in processing speed and executive functioning scores. Conclusions: Our study finds a comparable influence of demographic factors in both populations on the performance of CCD, RUDAS, and CNTB, confirming their adequate cross-cultural properties. We provide normative data for these tests in Spaniards and Colombians living in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Conventional neuropsychological norms likely include cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals with preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology (amyloid-β, tau, and neurodegeneration) since they are based on cohorts without AD biomarkers data. Due to this limitation, population-based norms would lack sensitivity for detecting subtle cognitive decline due to AD, the transitional stage between healthy cognition and mild cognitive impairment. We have recently published norms for memory tests in individuals with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarker levels. Objective: The aim of the present study was to provide further AD biomarker-based cognitive references covering attentional, executive function, linguistic, and visual processing tests. Methods: We analyzed 248 CU individuals aged between 50–70 years old with normal CSF Aβ, p-tau, and neurodegeneration (t-tau) biomarker levels. The tests included were the Trail Making Test (TMT), Semantic Fluency Test, Digit and Symbol Span, Coding, Matrix Reasoning, Judgement of Line Orientation and Visual Puzzles. Normative data were developed based on regression models adjusted for age, education, and sex when needed. We present equations to calculate z-scores, the corresponding normative percentile tables, and online calculators. Results: Age, education, and sex were associated with performance in all tests, except education for the TMT-A, and sex for the TMT-B, Coding, and Semantic Fluency. Cut-offs derived from the current biomarker-based reference data were higher and more sensitive than standard norms. Conclusion: We developed reference data obtained from individuals with evidence of non-pathologic AD biomarker levels that may improve the objective characterization of subtle cognitive decline in preclinical AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The CERAD Word List Memory Test (WLMT) is widely used in the assessment of older adults with suspected dementia. Although normative data of the WLMT exist in many different regions of the world, normative data based on large population-based cohorts from the Scandinavian countries are lacking.Objective: To develop normative data for the WLMT based on a large population-based Norwegian sample of healthy older adults aged 70 years and above, stratified by age, gender, and education.Methods: A total of 6,356 older adults from two population-based studies in Norway, HUNT4 70 + and HUNT4 Trondheim 70+, were administered the WLMT. Only persons with normal cognitive function were included. We excluded persons with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, and persons with a history of stroke and/or depression. This resulted in 3,951 persons aged between 70 and 90 years, of whom 56.2% were females. Regression-based normative data were developed for this sample.Results: Age, gender, and education were significant predictors of performance on the WLMT list-learning subtests and the delayed recall subtest, i.e., participants of younger age, female sex, and higher education level attained higher scores compared to participants of older age, male sex, and lower level of education.Conclusion: Regression-based normative data from the WMLT, stratified by age, gender, and education from a large population-based Norwegian sample of cognitively healthy older adults aged 70 to 90 years are presented. An online norm calculator is available to facilitate scoring of the subtests (in percentiles and z-scores). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: TMA-93 examines relational binding using images. The test has been proven to be discriminative for diagnosing early Alzheimer's disease by biomarkers. Norms for this test are available, but the elderly, at high risk for Alzheimer's disease, have not yet been widely represented.Objective: To extend normative data on the TMA-93 for people aged 75 and over.Methods: An extension of the Spanish TMA-93 normative study was undertaken. Only cognitively unimpaired people aged 75 and over were included. Age, gender, and educational attainment were registered as socio-demographic variables. Using histograms analysis, median comparisons, and linear regression analysis, we selected variables that demonstrated influence on TMA-93 total scores and provided percentile-base reference data according to combinations of those variables.Results: We included 431 new participants, resulting in a total sample of 657 individuals (median age = 78, interquartile range = 76-81, range = 75-93). Percentile-base reference data stratified by a combination of age ranges (75-79, n = 428; and ≥80 years, n = 229), and educational attainment (< first grade, n = 253; first grade, n = 209; > first grade, n = 195) revealed that participants achieved a minimum TMA-93 total score of 26/30 at the 50th-percentile regardless of stratum. At the 10th-percentile, a maximum of 24/30 was achieved in the more educated stratum contrasting with a minimum of 19/30 in the less educated stratum.Conclusion: Although mitigated by lower levels of education, performance on the TMA-93 is widely preserved in cognitively unimpaired people aged 75 and over. The test could facilitate the screening of elderly patients with memory complaints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The early diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders before the symptoms' onset is the ultimate goal of the scientific community. REMEDES for Alzheimer (R4Alz) is a battery, designed for assessing cognitive control abilities in people with minor and major neurocognitive disorders.Objective: To investigate whether the R4Alz battery's tasks differentiate subjective cognitive decline (SCD) from cognitively healthy adults (CHA) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Methods: The R4Alz battery was administered to 175 Greek adults, categorized in five groups a) healthy young adults (HYA; n = 42), b) healthy middle-aged adults (HMaA; n = 33), c) healthy older adults (HOA; n = 14), d) community-dwelling older adults with SCD (n = 34), and e) people with MCI (n = 52).Results: Between the seven R4Alz subtasks, four showcased the best results for differentiating HOA from SCD: the working memory updating (WMCUT-S3), the inhibition and switching subtask (ICT/RST-S1&S2), the failure sets (FS) of the ICT/RST-S1&S2, and the cognitive flexibility subtask (ICT/RST-S3). The total score of the four R4Alz subtasks (R4AlzTot4) leads to an excellent discrimination among SCD and healthy adulthood, and to fare discrimination among SCD and MCI.Conclusion: The R4Alz battery is a novel approach regarding the neuropsychological assessment of people with SCD, since it can very well assist toward discriminating SCD from HOA. The R4Alz is able to measure decline of specific cognitive control abilities - namely of working memory updating, and complex executive functions - which seem to be the neuropsychological substrate of cognitive complaints in community dwelling adults of advancing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a reliable assessment of hand function. Interpretation of HGS is commonly done using normative data. Normative HGS data HGS considers the influence of age and gender without adjustment for anthropometric measurements or functional factors known to influence HGS., Objective: To determine the potential relationship of select anthropometric measurements (height, weight, hand length and width, forearm length and circumference) and functional factors (hand dominance, work and lifestyle category) to HGS., Methods: This study included a sample of 119 males and 96 female workers from North Queensland. HGS and six anthropometric measurements were obtained using calibrated instruments and reliable measurement protocols. Age and gender along with three functional factors were documented by self-report., Results: Right and left mean HGS was greater for individuals who performed heavy/very heavy work (58.1±10.1 kg and 54.1±10.9 kg respectively) compared to light (38.5±12.3 kg and 35.5±11.8 kg) or medium work (44.1±10.8 kg and 40.0±12.9 kg). Mean HGS was greater for individuals who performed heavy/very heavy activity (right 48.5±13.6 kg and left 44.5±13.7 kg) compared to light activity (right 36.3±11.2 kg and left 33.9±11.3 kg) within their lifestyle. HGS positively correlated with gender (p = 0.0001), work (p = 0.001) and anthropometric measurements of forearm circumference (p = 0.001), hand length (p = 0.006) and hand width (p = 0.052)., Conclusions: Easy to measure anthropometric measurements of forearm circumference, hand length and width are the strongest predictors of HGS in addition to an individual's physical activity at work and in their lifestyle. Consideration of these factors could lead to improved evaluation of HGS scores.

Background: The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) has not been validated in the Lebanese population and no normative data exist at the national level.Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of an Arabic version of MMSE developed by the "Groupe de Travail sur les Démences de l'Université Saint Joseph" (A-MMSE(GTD-USJ)) and to provide normative data by gender, age, and education in adults over 55.Methods: Study design: national cross-sectional survey.Study Population: 1,010 literate community-dwelling Lebanese residents aged 55 and above.Outcomes: reproducibility, internal consistency, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and area under the curve of the A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) for the detection of cognitive impairment using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) as the gold standard. Normative data were established from 720 healthy adults. A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) scores corresponding to the 5th, 10th, 15th, and 50th percentiles were identified according to gender, age, and education.Results: Intra-rater and inter-rater test-retest score correlations were 0.89 and 0.72, respectively. Cronbach alpha coefficient for internal consistency of the A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) was 0.71. A threshold value of 23 provided a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 89.4%. The area under the curve was 0.92. A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) scores increased with education and decreased with age. Women had significantly lower scores than men. Normative data for A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) stratified by gender, age, and education were generated.Conclusion: In reference to the CDR, the A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) is a valid tool to assess cognitive status among Lebanese subjects aged 55 and above. Normative data will help clinicians in detecting cognitive impairment in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Normative data on Hand grip strength has a wide range of application and is of great value. OBJECTIVE: To establish gender and age-specific reference data concerning hand grip strength of Iranian office workers, to explore possible relationships with demographic and anthropometric factors and to develop appropriate predictive models. METHODS: The study population included 418 (220 males and 198 females) Iranian office employees. They were divided into 5-year age-groups. Hand length, palm width, palm length, forearm length, wrist circumference, and forearm circumference were measured by means of a digital Caliper (±0.01 mm) and a tape meter (±0.1 cm). The value of hand grip strength was measured by JAMAR hydraulic dynamometer respecting the American Society of Hand Therapy recommendations. RESULTS: The average of grip strength for dominant and non-dominant hands (in Kg) respectively was 51.10±9.50 and 46.90±9.89 for male and 28.76±4.47 and 25.89±4.60 for female. Age was curvilinearly related to hand grip strength. All selected hand dimensions were highly correlated with grip strength; palm width, palm length and hand length being the most correlated ones, respectively. Prediction equations of hand grip strength were developed for dominant and non-dominant hands of both genders. CONCLUSIONS: Suggested norms would provide more accuracy for ergonomic designers as well as health practitioners especially with regards to proposed prediction models with which grip strength could be estimated faster and easier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a major disorder that can be ttriggering, exacerbating, or co-occurring with dementia symptoms. Its assessment is paramount to achieve diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic decisions. The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) is purposely designed to address clinically this issue.Objective: To examine the reliability and validity of an Arabic version of the CSDD (A-CSDD) in the Tunisian population.Methods: Fifty-seven participants took part in this study: 20 as a control group (NC), 18 as dementia patients with depression (DD), and 19 as depressed patients without dementia (DND); all patients met the DSM IV criteria for depression and/or dementia. A translated, back-translated and adapted Arabic version of the CSDD was administered in parallel with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the non-cognitive part of the Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale, and the Mini-Mental State Examination.Results: The A-CSDD had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.85) and high test-retest reliability (Rho = 0.897, p < 0.001). The A-CSDD had excellent discriminatory power to diagnose depression in dementia patients (AUC = 0.90, p < 0.001) and good concurrent validity with the GDS (Rho = 0.70, p < 0.001). A principal component analysis with varimax rotation, performed on the DD group, led to a configuration of five factors explaining 75% of the variance.Conclusions: The results showed that this Arabic-Tunisian version of the A-CSDD is reliable and valid for diagnosing depression in an elderly Tunisian population with dementia and can be used in clinical and research settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Grip strength is an objective measure of a person's hand functionality and upper limb strength. In Asia, there is a lack of normative data for grip strength among the population, especially in South Korea. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the grip strength in various body postures and gender in the adult South Korean population. METHODS: A total of 100 male and 64 female subjects participated in this study. Their grip strengths were measured using a standard adjustable Jamar handle dynamometer. RESULTS: The results showed that their grip strength differed statistically by gender, handedness, and posture. Their gender and right-hand length were the most significant predictors of their grip strength. The Asian population, including South Korea, showed a lower grip strength than the European and American populations in previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the maximal isometric grip strength is affected by gender, handedness, posture, and population. Thus, gender-, population-, and posture-specific grip strength data are essential for clinical and industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The "Triana Test" is a novel story recall test based on emotional material with demonstrated accuracy in diagnosing mild cognitive impairment patients., Objective: This study aims to obtain normative data for the "Triana Test"., Methods: A normative study was conducted at a university hospital in Spain. Partners of patients were systematically recruited if eligible (age ≥50, no memory complaints, and a total TMA-93 score at or above the 10th percentile). The "Triana Test" was administered and scored. For developing the normative data, a regression-based method was followed., Results: The final sample included 362 participants (median age = 66, range = 50-88; 64.9% females). A model including age and educational level better predicted the total scores. Combinations of these variables resulted in different 10th percentile scores., Conclusions: Norms for using the "Triana Test" are now available. The provided cutoffs for the 10th percentile will aid in the diagnosis of prodromal Alzheimer's disease., Competing Interests: Silvia Rodrigo-Herrero and Emilio Franco-Macías are the authors of the “Triana Test”., (© 2023 – The authors. Published by IOS Press.)

The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale's cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) is the most widely used instrument for screening cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. The aim of the present study was to develop an Arabic version of this scale (A-ADAS-Cog), examine its psychometric properties (reliability and validity), and provide normative data. The A-ADAS-Cog), an Arabic version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (A-MMSE), and a Standardized Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) were administered to three Tunisian groups: 124 normal controls (NC), 33 patients with non-Alzheimer dementia (N-AD), and 25 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The A-ADAS-Cog scores were significantly affected by age and education. A correction table was constructed to control these effects. The results showed that the A-ADAS-Cog has good internal consistency and reliability (α= 0.82 for AD). The test-retest reliability of the A-ADAS-Cog was stable over time (r = 0.97). An evaluation of the construct validity of the A-ADAS-Cog using principal component analysis led to a solution with three factors (memory, language and praxis), which explained 72% of the variance. The concurrent validity of the A-ADAS-Cog was established using the A-MMSE score (r = -0.86), CDR Sum of Boxes score (CDR-SB; r = 0.87), and global CDR score (CDR-Global; r = 0.74). Finally, the A-ADAS-Cog has an excellent discriminating power in the diagnosis of AD (ROC area = 0.92). A cut-off score of 10 (sensitivity = 84% and specificity = 91%) is indicated for the screening of the AD. Overall, the results indicated that the A-ADAS-Cog is psychometrically reliable and valid and provides promising results for screening of dementia in Arabic speaking patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To describe the methodology utilized to calculate reliability and the generation of norms for 10 neuropsychological tests for children in Spanish-speaking countries. METHOD: The study sample consisted of over 4,373 healthy children from nine countries in Latin America (Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Puerto Rico) and Spain. Inclusion criteria for all countries were to have between 6 to 17 years of age, an Intelligence Quotient of=80 on the Test of Non-Verbal Intelligence (TONI-2), and score of <19 on the Children's Depression Inventory. Participants completed 10 neuropsychological tests. Reliability and norms were calculated for all tests. RESULTS: Test-retest analysis showed excellent or good-reliability on all tests (r's>0.55; p's<0.001) except M-WCST perseverative errors whose coefficient magnitude was fair. All scores were normed using multiple linear regressions and standard deviations of residual values. Age, age2, sex, and mean level of parental education (MLPE) were included as predictors in the models by country. The non-significant variables (p > 0.05) were removed and the analysis were run again. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest Spanish-speaking children and adolescents normative study in the world. For the generation of normative data, the method based on linear regression models and the standard deviation of residual values was used. This method allows determination of the specific variables that predict test scores, helps identify and control for collinearity of predictive variables, and generates continuous and more reliable norms than those of traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) is a commonly used measure of verbal fluency. While a normal decline in verbal fluency occurs in late adulthood, significant impairments may indicate brain injury or diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Normative data is essential to identify when test performance falls below expected levels based on age, gender, and education level., Objective: This study aimed to establish normative performance data on single-letter COWAT for older community-dwelling adults., Methods: Over 19,000 healthy men and women, without a diagnosis of dementia or a Modified Mini-Mental State Examination score below 77/100, were recruited for the ASPREE trial. Neuropsychological assessments, including the COWAT with letter F, were administered at study entry., Results: Median participant age was 75 years (range 65-98), with 56.5% being women. The majority of participants had 9-11 years of education in Australia and over 12 years in the U.S. The COWAT performance varied across ethno-racial groups and normative data were thus presented separately for 16,335 white Australians, 1,084 white Americans, 896 African-Americans, and 316 Hispanic/Latinos. Women generally outperformed men in the COWAT, except for Hispanic/Latinos. Higher education levels consistently correlated with better COWAT performance across all groups, while the negative association with age was weaker., Conclusions: This study provides comprehensive normative data for the COWAT stratified by ethno-racial groups in Australia and the U.S., considering age, gender, and education level. These norms can serve as reference standards for screening cognitive impairments in older adults in both clinical and research settings., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (© 2023 – The authors. Published by IOS Press.)

Background: The Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) is an instrument used to assess purposeful embellishment or fabrication of memory difficulties for personal gain. Although the TOMM can be use in non-English speaking cultures, it has not been validated in Spanish-speaking Central and South American contexts. Objective: To generate normative data on TOMM across 7 countries in Latin America, with country-specific adjustments for gender, age, and education, where appropriate. Method: The sample consisted of 2,266 healthy adults who were recruited from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Puerto Rico. Each subject was administered the TOMM as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. A standardized five-step statistical procedure was used to generate the norms. Results: t-tests did not show significant differences in TOMM performance between men and women in any countries of the TOMM Trial 1 or 2. As a result, gender-adjusted norms were not generated. Conclusions: The results from this study will have a large impact on the practice of neuropsychology in Latin America, as this is the first normative multicenter study to create norms for the TOMM in this global region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data on the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) across 11 countries in Latin America, with country-specific adjustments for gender, age, and education, where appropriate. METHOD: The sample consisted of 3,977 healthy adults who were recruited from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and, Puerto Rico. Each subject was administered the HVLT-R as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. A standardized five-step statistical procedure was used to generate the norms. RESULTS: The final multiple linear regression models explained 17-45% of the variance in HVLT-R scores. Although t-tests showed significant differences between men and women in Guatemala on the HVLT-R, it was a small effect size. As a result, gender-adjusted norms were not generated. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study will have a substantial impact on the practice of neuropsychology in Latin America, as this is the first normative multicenter study to develop norms for the HVLT-R in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data on the Stroop Test across 11 countries in Latin America, with country-specific adjustments for gender, age, and education, where appropriate. METHOD: The sample consisted of 3,977 healthy adults who were recruited from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and, Puerto Rico. Each subject was administered the Stroop Test, as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. A standardized five-step statistical procedure was used to generate the norms. RESULTS: The final multiple linear regression models explained 14-36% of the variance in Stroop Word scores, 12-41% of the variance in the Stoop Color, 14-36% of the variance in the Stroop Word-Color scores, and 4-15% of the variance in Stroop Interference scores. Although t-tests showed significant differences between men and women on the Stroop test, none of the countries had an effect size larger than 0.3. As a result, gender-adjusted norms were not generated. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first normative multicenter study conducted in Latin America to create norms for the Stoop Test in a Spanish-Speaking sample. This study will therefore have important implications for the future of neuropsychology research and practice throughout the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data on the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF) across 11 countries in Latin America, with country-specific adjustments for gender, age, and education, where appropriate. METHOD: The sample consisted of 3,977 healthy adults who were recruited from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and, Puerto Rico. Each subject was administered the ROCF as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. A standardized five-step statistical procedure was used to generate the norms. RESULTS: The final multiple linear regression models explained 7-34% of the variance in ROCF copy scores and 21-41% of the variance in immediate recall scores. Although t-tests showed significant differences between men and women on ROCF copy and immediate recall scores, none of the countries had an effect size larger than 0.3. As a result, gender-adjusted norms were not generated. CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first to create norms for the ROCF in Latin America. As a result, this study will have important implications for the formation and practice of neuropsychology in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data on the Brief Test of Attention (BTA) across 11 countries in Latin America, with country-specific adjustments for gender, age, and education, where appropriate. METHOD: The sample consisted of 3,977 healthy adults who were recruited from Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Honduras, Chile, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Bolivia. Each subject was administered the BTA as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. A standardized five-step statistical procedure was used to generate the norms. RESULTS: The final multiple linear regression models explained between 11-41% of the variance in BTA scores. Although men had higher scores on the BTA in Honduras, there were no other significant gender differences, and this one effect size was small. As a result, gender-adjusted norms were not generated. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first normative multicenter study conducted in Latin America to create norms for the BTA; this study will have an impact on the future practice of neuropsychology throughout Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data on the Trail Making Test (TMT) across 11 countries in Latin America, with countryspecific adjustments for gender, age, and education, where appropriate. METHOD: The sample consisted of 3,977 healthy adults who were recruited from Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Honduras, Chile, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Bolivia. Each subject was administered the TMT as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. A standardized five-step statistical procedure was used to generate the norms. RESULTS: The final multiple linear regression models for the TMT-A explained 23-50% of the variance, and the final multiple linear models for the TMT-B explained 22-49% of the variance. Although there were gender differences on the TMT in Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, and Honduras, only Honduras had an effect size greater than 0.3. As a result, gender-adjusted norms were generated for the Trail Making Test-A, but not B, in this country. CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first to create norms for the TMT in Latin America. As a result, this study will have important implications for the practice of neuropsychology in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) across 11 countries in Latin America, with country-specific adjustments for gender, age, and education, where appropriate. METHOD: The sample consisted of 3,977 healthy adults who were recruited from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and, Puerto Rico. Each subject was administered the SDMT as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. A standardized five-step statistical procedure was used to generate the norms. RESULTS: The final multiple linear regression models explained 29-56% of the variance in SDMT scores. Although there were gender differences on the SDMT in Mexico, Honduras, Paraguay, and Guatemala, none of the four countries had an effect size greater than 0.3. As a result, gender-adjusted norms were not generated. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first normative multicenter study conducted in Latin America to create norms for the SDMT; this study will have an impact on the future practice of neuropsychology throughout the global region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data on the Modified Card Sorting Test (M-WCST) across 11 countries in Latin America, with country-specific adjustments for gender, age, and education, where appropriate. METHOD: The sample consisted of 3,977 healthy adults who were recruited from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Puerto Rico. Each subject was administered the M-WCST as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. A standardized five-step statistical procedure was used to generate the norms. RESULTS: The final multiple linear regression models explained between 2-33% of the variance in M-WCST scores. Although t-tests showed significant differences between men and women from seven different countries on the M-WCST, the effect sizes were small. As a result, gender-adjusted norms were not generated. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first normative multicenter study conducted in in Latin America aiming to create norms for the M-WCST; this study will have important implications for the future of neuropsychology in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data for theVerbal Fluency Tests across 11 countries in Latin America, with country-specific adjustments for gender, age, and education, where appropriate. METHOD: The sample consisted of 3,977 healthy adults who were recruited from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and, Puerto Rico. Each subject was administered the Verbal Fluency Test as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. A standardized five-step statistical procedure was used to generate the norms. RESULTS: The final multiple linear regression models for the letter F explained 8-30% of the variance, 7-32% for letter A, 8-32% for the letter S, and 16-43% for the animal category in Verbal Fluency Test scores. Although t-tests showed significant differences between men and women on the Verbal Fluency Test, they did not have an effect size larger than 0.3. As a result, gender-adjusted norms were not generated. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first normative multicenter study conducted in Latin America aiming to create norms for the Verbal Fluency Test; this study will have important outcomes for the future of neuropsychology in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To generate normative data on the Boston Naming Test (BNT) across 10 countries in Latin America, with countryspecific adjustments for gender, age, and education, where appropriate. Method: The sample consisted of 3,779 healthy adults who were recruited from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and, Puerto Rico. Each subject was administered the BNT as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. A standardized five-step statistical procedure was used to generate the norms. Results: The final multiple linear regression models explained between 3-32% of the variance in BNT scores. Although t-tests showed significant differences between men and women for Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Guatemala, and Bolivia on the BNT, none of the six countries had an effect size larger than 0.3. As a result, gender-adjusted norms were not generated. Conclusions: This is the first normative multicenter study conducted in Latin America to generate norms for the BNT; this study will have substantial repercussions for the practice of neuropsychology throughout the global region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Lack of baseline values is a limitation in the quantification of physical performance testing of the low back muscles. The purpose of this study is to present an age and gender normative values for static back extensor muscles' endurance in adults. Subjects and methods: Five hundred and sixty one healthy adults aged between 19 to 67 years volunteered for this study. Endurance of the low back musculature was assessed using modified Biering-Sørensen test of Static Muscular Endurance. The mean, standard deviation, and percentile scores for endurance time were determined for five gender / age groups classified on a range of 10 years. Results: The mean endurance time of all the participants was 113 ± 46 seconds. Men had higher mean endurance than women (t=3.309; p=0.001). Significant difference (F=32.702; p=0.001) was found in the endurance time across the age groups. There was an age and gender variation in the percentile values. The normative values demonstrate that a decrease in endurance time is expected with increasing age. The significant age and anthropometric differences across the age groups could contribute to the endurance differences. Conclusion: These values could be used to compare a patient's score at intake and also serve as clinical target for which subsequent testing after treatment, at discharge and/or follow up can be compared, providing an indication of change in endurance capacity over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: (1) To develop a normative data set for hand strength and anthropometric dimensions in automotive trim line workers. (2) To examine the relationship between trim line worker demographics and hand strength. Background: Work tasks inherent in the automobile manufacturing industry such as forceful gripping and pinching, place physical demands upon the hands and fingers. This places workers at risk of developing a musculoskeletal injury. To reduce the risk of injury it is necessary to apply user strength data in the design phase of hand intensive tasks in order to create a fit between the person and the task. Method: Demographic variables, anthropometry and maximal grip and pinch strength were measured for one hundred and sixty-one trim line automotive workers. Their data were analyzed to examine the associations between the variables. Results: Significant hand strength differences were found in relation to age, gender, hand dominance and anthropometry. The workers in this study had significantly lower strength values than previously used reference data. Discussion: The disparity between the present study's strength data and that of Mathiowetz et al. [22] may be due to the different demographic pools from which the populations were drawn. A training effect appeared to exist in trim line workers which may have reduced the disparity in hand strength between the hands as the number of years worked on the line increased. Conclusion: Caution should be taken when applying international normative data sets to the design of hand tools/workstations, as global differences in hand strength are likely to exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Processing speed, which can be assessed using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), is central to many brain functions. Processing speed declines with advanced age but substantial impairments are indicative of brain injury or disease., Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide SDMT normative data for older community-dwelling individuals in the U.S. and Australia., Methods: The ASPREE trial recruited 19,114 relatively healthy older men and women in Australia and the U.S. from the general community. All participants were without a diagnosis of dementia and with a Modified Mini-Mental State examination score of 78 or more at enrolment. The SDMT was administered at baseline as part of a neuropsychological test battery., Results: The median age of participants was 74 years (range 65-99), and 56% were women. The median years of education was 12. Ethno-racial differences in SDMT performance were observed and normative data were thus presented separately for 16,289 white Australians, 1,082 white Americans, 891 African-Americans, and 316 Hispanic/Latinos. There were consistent positive associations found between SDMT and education level, and negative associations between SDMT and age. Mean scores for women were consistently higher than men with the exception of Hispanic/Latinos aged ≥70 years., Conclusion: This study provides comprehensive SDMT normative data for whites (Australian and U.S.), Hispanic/Latinos, and African-Americans, according to gender, age, and education level. These norms can be used clinically as reference standards to screen for cognitive impairments in older individuals., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest to report., (© 2020 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.)

The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale's cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) is the most widely used instrument for screening cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. The aim of the present study was to develop an Arabic version of this scale (A-ADAS-Cog), examine its psychometric properties (reliability and validity), and provide normative data. The A-ADAS-Cog), an Arabic version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (A-MMSE), and a Standardized Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) were administered to three Tunisian groups: 124 normal controls (NC), 33 patients with non-Alzheimer dementia (N-AD), and 25 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The A-ADAS-Cog scores were significantly affected by age and education. A correction table was constructed to control these effects. The results showed that the A-ADAS-Cog has good internal consistency and reliability (α= 0.82 for AD). The test-retest reliability of the A-ADAS-Cog was stable over time (r = 0.97). An evaluation of the construct validity of the A-ADAS-Cog using principal component analysis led to a solution with three factors (memory, language and praxis), which explained 72% of the variance. The concurrent validity of the A-ADAS-Cog was established using the A-MMSE score (r = -0.86), CDR Sum of Boxes score (CDR-SB; r = 0.87), and global CDR score (CDR-Global; r = 0.74). Finally, the A-ADAS-Cog has an excellent discriminating power in the diagnosis of AD (ROC area = 0.92). A cut-off score of 10 (sensitivity = 84% and specificity = 91%) is indicated for the screening of the AD. Overall, the results indicated that the A-ADAS-Cog is psychometrically reliable and valid and provides promising results for screening of dementia in Arabic speaking patients.

This paper is the third of a series aimed at providing clinicians with a guide to assist them in using work-related assessments appropriately. The major administration and interpretation problems facing clinicians using work-related assessments are described in detail. Administration problems are: (1) insufficient evidence of reliability and validity; and (2) potential examiner bias. Interpretation problems are: (1) inappropriate use of norm and criterion-referenced data; (2) inappropriate statistical manipulation of results; (3) difficulty in determining end-point; and (4) difficulty determining sincerity of effort. Companion papers describe the purposes of work-related assessments, and design problems in detail.

Older workers that sustain an injury effecting their work performances are increasingly being treated by rehabilitation professionals. Often, these persons are tested with popular standardized assessment tools that have obtained their normative data on young or middle-aged subjects. This article examines the normative data relating to some of these assessment tools and the potential injustice imposed upon older workers when they are compared to these standards.