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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Comparing the Frequency Effect Between the Lexical Decision and Naming Tasks in Chinese

Comparing the Frequency Effect Between the Lexical Decision and Naming Tasks in Chinese

Published on: April 1, 2016

Reliable change on the Boston naming test.

Bonnie C Sachs¹, John A Lucas, Glenn E Smith

¹Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA. bsachs@vcu.edu

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS

|January 24, 2012

Summary

This study establishes reliable change indices for the Boston Naming Test in older adults. A decline of 4-6 points over 9-24 months indicates true change in naming ability.

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Area of Science:

Neuropsychology
Cognitive Aging
Psychometrics

Background:

Serial neuropsychological assessments track cognitive changes but can be affected by measurement error and repeated testing.
Accurate interpretation of cognitive change requires understanding the reliability of assessment tools.

Purpose of the Study:

To establish reliable change indices (RCI) for the Boston Naming Test (BNT) in cognitively normal older adults.
To provide clinicians and researchers with objective criteria for detecting meaningful changes in confrontation naming ability.

Main Methods:

A cohort of 844 cognitively normal adults aged 56+ were administered the BNT at baseline and retested between 9 and 24 months.
Reliable Change Indices (RCI) were calculated to determine the minimum score change indicative of true change, accounting for measurement error.

Main Results:

A decline of 4 points over 9-15 months or 6 points over 16-24 months on the BNT signifies reliable change.
These thresholds were further refined based on individual factors like age and family history of dementia.

Conclusions:

The study provides specific, evidence-based cutoff scores for reliable change on the BNT in older adults.
These findings enhance the precision of interpreting longitudinal changes in confrontation naming, aiding clinical diagnosis and research.