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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
06:58
Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
Robust and expanded norms for the Dementia Rating Scale
Otto Pedraza1, John A Lucas, Glenn E Smith
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. otto.pedraza@mayo.edu
Summary
This study revises Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) norms using robust methods. New norms, excluding preclinical dementia cases, improve cognitive assessment accuracy for adults aged 55 and over.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- The Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) is a key global cognition measure.
- Current norms are based on cross-sectional data, potentially including individuals with preclinical dementia.
- This contamination may reduce the clinical utility of DRS norms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reappraise existing Mayo's Older Americans Normative Studies (MOANS) DRS norms.
- To develop robust, expanded DRS norms using longitudinal data.
- To evaluate the benefits of robust norming for cognitive assessment.
Main Methods:
- Reanalysis of the original MOANS sample.
- Development of new norms using a cohort of 894 adults aged 55 and over.
- Inclusion of longitudinal follow-up to exclude individuals with neurodegenerative disease.
Main Results:
- Established robust and expanded DRS norms for adults aged 55+.
- Demonstrated the impact of preclinical dementia cases on standard norms.
- Quantified the improved accuracy and clinical utility of robust norms.
Conclusions:
- Robust norming enhances the accuracy of the Dementia Rating Scale.
- Excluding preclinical dementia cases from normative samples is crucial.
- The revised norms offer improved clinical utility for assessing cognitive function in older adults.
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