Normative data for the Grooved Pegboard Test in Quebec-French middle-aged and older adults

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Psychomotor Function

Background:

• The Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT) is a standard tool for assessing fine motor skills in older adults.
• Sociodemographic factors have been shown to influence GPT performance in previous research.
• Developing population-specific normative data is crucial for accurate clinical interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative data for the Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT) in the middle-aged and elderly Quebec-French population.
• To investigate the influence of age, sex, education, and handedness on GPT performance in this demographic.
• To provide a basis for identifying psychomotor impairments in this specific population.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 266 individuals aged 50-90 years from Quebec participated.
• Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between demographic variables and GPT performance.
• Performance was assessed on trials involving both dominant and non-dominant hands.

Main Results:

• GPT performance showed a positive association with female sex and a negative association with age across all trials.
• Left-handedness was linked to better performance on non-dominant hand trials.
• An interaction between age and education positively influenced performance on the second non-dominant hand trial. Normative data were generated using regression equations.

Conclusions:

• The developed normative data will aid in the accurate assessment of psychomotor function in middle-aged and elderly Quebec-French individuals.
• Findings highlight the importance of considering demographic factors like age, sex, and handedness in GPT interpretation.
• Limitations include a gender imbalance in the sample, potentially affecting generalizability for men, particularly those with lower education levels.