Abstract
BackgroundDeficits of executive functioning (EF) are frequently found in neurological disorders. The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is one of the most widespread and psychometrically robust EF screeners in clinical settings. However, in Italy, FAB norms date back to 15 years ago; moreover, its validity against “EF-loaded” global cognitive screeners (e.g., the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) has yet to be tested. This study thus aimed at (a) providing updated normative data for the Italian FAB and (b) assessing its convergent validity with the MoCA.MethodsFour-hundred and seventy-five healthy Italian native speakers (306 females, 169 males; mean age: 61.08 ± 15.1; mean education: 11.67 ± 4.57) were administered by the MoCA and the FAB. FAB items were divided into three subscales: FAB-1 (linguistically mediated EF), FAB-2 (planning), and FAB-3 (inhibition). Regression-based norms were derived (equivalent scores) for all FAB measures.ResultsAge and education were predictive of all FAB measures, whereas no gender differences were detected. The FAB and its sub-scales were related to MoCA measures—the strongest associations being found with MoCA total and MoCA-EF scores. FAB sub-scales were both internally related and associated with FAB total scores.DiscussionThe FAB proved to have convergent validity with both global cognitive and EF measures in healthy individuals. The present study provides updated normative data for the FAB and its sub-scales in an Italian population sample, and thus supports an adaptive usage of this EF screener.
Highlights
Executive functioning (EF) comprises a multifaceted set of frontally mediated, noninstrumental cognitive processes that control instrumental domains and behavior [1]
Measures (Table 3): the strongest associations were found with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)-executive functioning (EF) and total scores
Age was negatively related to Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB)-1 (rs(475) = − 0.3; p < 0.001), − 2 (rs(475) = − 0.36; p < 0.001), − 3 (rs(475) = − 0.3; p < 0.001) and total (rs(475) = − 0.44; p < 0.001) scores, whereas a positive association with education was detected: FAB-1 (rs(475) = 0.35; p < 0.001), FAB-2 (rs(475) = 0.24; p < 0.001), FAB-3 (rs(475) = 0.31; p < 0.001), and total (rs(475) = 0.42; p < 0.001)
Summary
Executive functioning (EF) comprises a multifaceted set of frontally mediated, noninstrumental cognitive processes that control instrumental domains and behavior [1]. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the FAB has been only validated against “non-executive” screeners in Italy [6]—e.g., the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) [10]—whereas its association with “EF-loaded” screening measures, e.g., the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) [11], has yet to be explored. In Italy, FAB norms date back to 15 years ago; its validity against “EF-loaded” global cognitive screeners (e.g., the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) has yet to be tested. This study aimed at (a) providing updated normative data for the Italian FAB and (b) assessing its convergent validity with the MoCA. The present study provides updated normative data for the FAB and its sub-scales in an Italian population sample, and supports an adaptive usage of this EF screener
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