The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB): normative values in an Italian population sample.

Area of Science:

• Neuropsychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Gerontology

Background:

• The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is a widely used bedside screening tool for executive dysfunction.
• Its ease of administration and claimed sensitivity contribute to its frequent use in clinical and research settings.
• However, the need for localized normative data is crucial for accurate interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish Italian normative values for the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB).
• To develop a correction grid for FAB raw scores based on age and education.
• To determine inferential cut-off scores and equivalent scores for the Italian population.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 364 healthy Italian control subjects (215 women, 149 men) aged 20-94 years.
• Administered the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).
• Utilized multiple linear regression and nonparametric techniques to derive normative data and cut-off scores.

Main Results:

• Age and educational level significantly influenced FAB scores, while gender did not.
• A correction grid for FAB raw scores was developed based on a linear equation.
• Test-retest and interrater reliabilities were found to be satisfactory.
• MMSE scores correlated with raw FAB scores, but not with adjusted FAB scores.

Conclusions:

• The derived Italian normative data and correction grid enhance the accuracy of the FAB in clinical and research contexts.
• These findings support the improved utility of the FAB for assessing executive functions in the Italian population.
• The study underscores the importance of considering demographic factors like age and education for precise cognitive assessment.