Normative data for the story recall subtest of the BEM-144 in the Quebec-French population aged 50 years and over

Abstract

Objective The story recall subtest of the Batterie d’Efficience Mnésique (BEM-144) is a verbal episodic memory test that assesses immediate and episodic memory. Variables such as age, sex, and education level can impact performance on this type of memory test, as can cultural differences. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish normative data for the story recall subtest of the BEM-144 in the elderly French-Quebec population. Method The normative sample consisted of 260 healthy individuals aged 50–90 years, all from the province of Quebec, Canada. Analyses were performed to estimate the association between age, sex, and education level on one hand, and immediate and delayed recall performance, on the other hand. Results The results show that all sociodemographic variables are significantly associated with story recall performance. Normative data are proposed in the form of regression equations. Conclusions Overall, these norms will be beneficial for the evaluation and detection of episodic memory impairment in middle-aged and older adults.