[Normative data of the abbreviated-revised Barcelona test for cognitively active elderly people]

Neuropsychological assessment is mandatory in order to identify cognitive changes that occur during either normal or pathological aging. However, normative data adapted to the characteristics of the population are needed in order to reduce the probability of false diagnoses of cognitive impairment. The aim of the present work was to compute normative data for cognitively active elderly people attending a University course for the elderly.

An analysis was performed on the data from 87 participants (70.9% women) with a mean age of 66.73 years who undertook the abbreviated- revised Barcelona test (test de Barcelona revisado-abreviado). Normative data were calculated using linear regressions controlling for age, gender, and years of education. Adjusted normative data were compared with normative data available from the test manual and obtained from the general population.

Years of education and gender showed the highest weights in the regression model. Normative data for cognitively active older adults showed a different number of low scores compared to normative data from the general population. The number of low scores were related to years of education and general cognitive functioning.

Normative data obtained from cognitively active older people could help identify more accurately the cognitive functioning of cognitively active older people than do normative data obtained from the general population.