Validation and normative data for the Multilingual Naming Test (MINT) in French-speaking Quebec adults over 40

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psycholinguistics
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Picture naming tests are crucial for evaluating language and semantic memory deficits in dementia.
• Cultural adaptation of these tests is essential for accurate assessment.
• Existing tests may not be suitable for diverse linguistic populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a Quebec French version of the Multilingual Naming Test (MINT).
• To establish normative data for the Quebec French MINT.
• To assess the diagnostic accuracy of the MINT for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.

Main Methods:

• Developed and validated the Quebec French MINT with 224 participants.
• Stratified participants into cognitively unimpaired, MCI, and dementia groups.
• Used linear models for norming and Receiver Operating Characteristic curves for diagnostic accuracy analysis.

Main Results:

• The Quebec French MINT demonstrated high comparability with the Boston Naming Test (BNT).
• The MINT showed significant effects of sex and education on scores.
• The MINT effectively discriminated dementia from cognitively unimpaired individuals, performing better than for MCI detection.

Conclusions:

• The Quebec French MINT is a valid and effective tool for neuropsychological assessment in the Quebec French population.
• Cultural adaptation and correction for demographic factors like education and sex are vital for accurate scoring.
• The MINT can serve as a replacement for the BNT in this population.