A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed: Age-Related Cognitive Slowing and Screening Thresholds in Turkish-Speaking Adults

A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT) is a processing-speed test that provides objective measures of aspects of executive functioning (attention, working memory, and set shifting) and has been shown to have broad cultural and linguistic applications.

To extend the availability of preliminary sample-based reference measures of AQT perceptual and cognitive processing speed for use in cognitive screening of Turkish adults. The proposed preliminary sample-based reference values should be interpreted as preliminary, sample-based reference ranges rather than clinically validated statistical reference ranges.

We administered the AQT color, form, and color-form processing-speed tests to 119 educated, healthy, Turkish-speaking adults aged 18-80 years. Participants were divided into a younger group (18-55 years; n = 53) and an older group (56-80 years; n = 66). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, linear regression, and one-way ANOVA following log-transformation of naming times.

In the total group, age correlated significantly (p < 0.01) with log-normal naming times for color (r = 0.60), form (r = 0.55), and color-form combinations (r = 0.63). Linear regression indicated an average increase in naming time of between 1.5 and 2 s per decade. There were significant differences (p < 0.01) in naming times for all AQT measures between the younger and older groups, and the effect sizes were large.

The present findings provide preliminary sample-based reference values for perceptual and cognitive processing speed in typically developing Turkish adults and indicate age-related decline in normal AQT performance. Educational attainment showed a small-to-moderate negative association with naming times (r = -0.23 to -0.34, p < 0.05), suggesting relatively faster performance with higher education. These findings provide preliminary reference values, but require validation in larger, more diverse samples.