Spanish normative studies (NEURONORMA-Plus project): norms for the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Modified Taylor...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Cognitive assessment is crucial for diagnosing neurological and psychiatric conditions.
• Normative data are essential for accurate interpretation of neuropsychological test results.
• Existing norms may not adequately represent diverse populations or account for demographic variables.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish age-, education-, and sex-adjusted norms for the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Modified Taylor Complex Figure (MTCF), and Ruff-Light Trail Learning Test (RULIT).
• To support the NEURONORMA-Plus project by providing updated normative data for the Spanish population.
• To facilitate accurate clinical interpretation of cognitive performance in Spanish adults.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 308 healthy Spanish individuals aged 18-92 years.
• Collected data on WCST, MTCF, and RULIT performance.
• Developed regression models to adjust raw scores for age, education, and sex in two age groups (<50 and ≥50 years).

Main Results:

• Older age negatively impacted performance across all tests.
• Education positively influenced WCST (younger group) and MTCF (older group) performance.
• Sex showed a small but significant effect on RULIT performance in younger men.

Conclusions:

• The generated normative data enhance the clinical utility of WCST, MTCF, and RULIT in the Spanish population.
• Demographic adjustments (age, education, sex) are critical for accurate neuropsychological assessment.
• This study contributes valuable data for understanding cognitive aging and variability.