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Dementia does not explain correlation between age and scores on Boston Naming Test
Anna Mackay1, Lisa Tabor Connor, Martha Storandt
1Department of Psychology, Campus Box 1125, Washington University, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Summary
Normal aging, not early dementia, is linked to lower scores on the Boston Naming Test. This study confirms that naming difficulties can increase with age in healthy older adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Previous studies suggested a correlation between age and performance on the Boston Naming Test (BNT).
- Concerns were raised whether this correlation was due to early-stage dementia in participants.
- The BNT is a widely used neuropsychological test assessing confrontational naming abilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between chronological age and BNT performance.
- To determine if the observed age-related decline in naming scores is attributable to preclinical dementia.
- To ascertain if normal aging itself impacts confrontational naming.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 125 non-demented individuals aged 60-88 years was evaluated.
- Participants were part of a control group at an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (1985-1998).
- Longitudinal follow-up ensured participants remained undemented for at least two years post-testing.
Main Results:
- A significant negative correlation (r = -.36) was found between age and BNT naming scores.
- The magnitude of this correlation was comparable to findings in unscreened populations.
- No participants developed dementia within the follow-up period, ruling out early-stage dementia as the cause.
Conclusions:
- The correlation between age and BNT performance is not solely due to the inclusion of individuals with early dementia.
- Confrontational naming difficulties appear to be a normal consequence of aging.
- The findings support the use of the BNT in assessing cognitive changes associated with normal aging.