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Spanish Consortium for Ageing Normative Data (SCAND): Semantic Verbal Fluency Tests
Ramón López-Higes1, Susana Rubio-Valdehita2, Miguel A Fernández-Blázquez3
1Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain.
Summary
This study provides normative data for semantic verbal fluency tests in Spanish adults aged 50-89. These findings aid in identifying cognitive impairment using validated verbal fluency measures.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Semantic verbal fluency is a key indicator for detecting cognitive impairment.
- Normative data are crucial for accurate clinical assessment in specific populations.
- Existing data may not adequately represent middle-aged and older Spanish adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative data for various semantic verbal fluency tests in Spanish adults aged 50-89.
- To consider sociodemographic factors like age, education, and gender.
- To provide data on word production, errors, and rate of retrieval.
Main Methods:
- Study included 2,088 cognitively unimpaired Spanish adults (50-89 years).
- Normative data were generated using percentile ranges converted to scalar scores.
- Linear regressions analyzed the influence of age, education, and gender.
Main Results:
- Scalar scores and percentiles for all semantic verbal fluency tests are presented.
- Adjustments for age and education are provided for specific categories (e.g., animals, clothes).
- Gender demonstrated an effect on 'clothes' production in early retrieval segments.
Conclusions:
- The established norms offer clinically relevant data for assessing Spanish-speaking individuals in Spain.
- These norms support the evaluation of cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults.
- The study contributes to the accurate identification of cognitive impairment through standardized verbal fluency testing.