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A longitudinal study of confrontation naming in the "normal" elderly.
Ronald F Zec1, Stephen J Markwell, Nicole R Burkett
1Center for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois 62794, USA. rzec@siumed.edu
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS
|October 27, 2005
Summary
This study on the Boston Naming Test (BNT) in older adults found that naming ability is generally well-preserved with aging. Subtle declines were observed only in the 70s and 80s age groups.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Psycholinguistics
Background:
- Aging affects cognitive functions, including lexical retrieval and confrontation naming.
- The Boston Naming Test (BNT) is a common tool to assess confrontation naming abilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal effects of aging on confrontation naming using the BNT.
- To establish reliable change indices for BNT performance in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 541 healthy older adults (ages 50-99) using the 60-item Boston Naming Test (BNT).
- Analysis of participants with at least 4 annual assessments, with subsets followed for 6, 8, or 10 years.
- Assessment of test-retest reliability and calculation of reliable change index scores.
Main Results:
- The BNT demonstrated moderate test-retest reliability (r = 0.76).
- A statistically reliable annual decline requires a change of at least 4 points.
- Age-related changes showed improvement in the 50s, stability in the 60s, and slight decline in the 70s and 80s.
- Projected 10-year changes were minimal (1-word improvement in 50s, 1.3-word decline in 70s).
Conclusions:
- Lexical retrieval, as measured by the BNT, is largely preserved throughout aging.
- Confrontation naming shows only subtle decline in the 7th and 8th decades of life.
- The findings support the resilience of naming abilities in healthy aging.