A - 10 Normative Data of Neuropsychological Tests of Language in Older Adults from Costa Rica.

Abstract

To generate normative data of the Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) and Boston Naming Test (BNT) for healthy older adults in Costa Rica. The sample consisted of 563 healthy Costa Rican adults aged 59-90years (M = 67.15; SD = 7). Each participant was administered the VFT and BNT as part of a more comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Multiple regression models showed a linear effect of education for all 4 phonological verbal fluency (PVF) scores, and a sex effect on VF P, with females performing better than males. The model predictors explained between 20.9% and 28.3% of the variance. In semantic verbal fluency (SVF) scores, linear effects of age and education were observed in all 4 subtests, such that word production decreased with increasing age and lower education. In addition, females scored better in all semantic categories except animals, where there was no effect of sex. The predictors of the model explained between 21.7% and 30.9% of the variance. In BNT, there was a linear effect of education and an effect of sex, so that males scored higher compared to females. The predictors of the model explained 9.6% of the variance. This is the first study to generate normative data for VFT and BNT in older adults from Costa Rica. This data will allow neuropsychologists in the region to perform assessment and diagnostic processes with greater accuracy.