Repeated testing of normal elderly with the Boston Naming Test

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Gerontology

Background:

• The Boston Naming Test (BNT) is a standard measure for assessing confrontational naming and language ability.
• Its effectiveness in identifying word-retrieval deficits in clinical groups is established.
• Limited research exists on the underlying information-processing mechanisms of BNT performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the information-processing mechanisms involved in Boston Naming Test performance.
• To examine the stability and practice effects of BNT scores over time in older adults.
• To explore changes in cognitive processing modes associated with aging and BNT performance.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study involving 122 subjects aged 57-85, with repeated testing using the 60-item BNT and other cognitive measures over three annual intervals.
• Analysis of BNT score stability and practice effects through repeated testing.
• Correlational analysis between BNT scores and measures of different cognitive domains at each probe.

Main Results:

• BNT scores demonstrated high stability over three annual probes, suggesting a lack of significant practice effect.
• Cross-sectional analysis indicated a decline in BNT scores among subjects older than 70.
• Correlations between BNT and other cognitive measures shifted over time, suggesting a change in processing modes.

Conclusions:

• BNT performance in elderly individuals appears stable over time, with minimal practice effects.
• A shift in information processing from predominantly verbal to visuo-spatial modes was observed in BNT performance over the study period in older adults.
• These findings highlight potential age-related changes in cognitive strategies during naming tasks.