Trail making test - black & white (TMT B&W): Normative study for the Chilean population

Area of Science:

• Neuropsychology
• Cognitive Assessment
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• The Trailmaking Test (TMT) has educational biases limiting its use in low-education populations.
• Existing TMT standardization in Chile is the only available option.
• There's a need for TMT adaptations applicable across educational levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative scores for the TMT - black & white (TMT B&W) in Chilean adults and elderly.
• To investigate the influence of sociodemographic factors on TMT B&W performance.
• To provide culturally relevant TMT B&W norms for Chilean neuropsychologists.

Main Methods:

• 227 participants (133 healthy, 94 cognitively impaired) from the Ageing Mets cohort in Chile.
• Administration of the TMT B&W to all participants.
• Multiple regression analysis on the cognitively healthy group to derive normative data, controlling for age, education, and sex.

Main Results:

• Age significantly affected TMT B&W Parts A and B scores.
• Education level influenced TMT B&W Part B performance.
• Completion rates for TMT B&W Parts A and B exceeded 90% in healthy individuals.
• Norms for errors were generated, showing group differences after controlling for age and education.

Conclusions:

• This study presents the first normative data for the Chilean TMT B&W.
• The findings will enhance the accuracy of executive function and impairment assessments in clinical neuropsychology.
• The TMT B&W norms offer a valuable tool for evaluating cognitive functions in the Chilean population.