[Analysis of the block design test in a geriatric sample group]

Area of Science:

• Neuropsychology
• Gerontology

Context:

• The block design test is clinically used for evaluating constructive apraxia.
• Assessing cognitive function in elderly individuals is crucial.

Purpose:

• To determine normal values of the block design test in healthy elderly individuals.
• To evaluate the test's utility as a rapid cognitive screening tool.
• To investigate interactions with demographic variables and inter-examiner reliability.

Summary:

• A study of 58 healthy elderly persons established block design test values.
• A novel grading scale was developed and tested.
• Significant interactions were found between sex and educational level; inter-examiner reliability was suboptimal.

Impact:

• The block design test appears to have limited usefulness for assessing constructive praxis in healthy elderly persons.
• It is not recommended as a rapid cognitive evaluation tool for this population.