Healthy Italian Adults Research Articles

HYBRID NICHE-NEUTRAL MODEL FOR THE GUT MICROBIOTA

The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem integrated in the human body. Its relevance in the host’s health is by now well established. For this reason, several studies are currently focusing their attention on its composition and ecological properties. Among such properties, biodiversity is indeed a key one, being an indicator of the health of an ecosystem. Despite that, the choice of the optimal metric to measure biodiversity in an effective way is still a matter of debate. Here, we discuss the main approaches proposed for this purpose, considering both classical statistical indices and model-based ones. We describe the relevance of the Relative Species Abundance distribution and the main probabilistic and ecological models that have been used to fit it. Finally, we report results obtained on the gut microbiota of three groups of subjects for which differences are expected: healthy Italian adults, Down Syndrome Italian adults, and Tanzanian Hadza hunter-gathers. Our results show the utility of considering a hybrid niche-neutral model to evaluate the biodiversity of this meaningful ecosystem.

Theater practice and interpersonal synchronization behaviors: a pilot study comparing actors and non-actors.

Recent studies in the field of theater studies no longer view theater as an object, but rather as a dynamic relationship between actors and spectators. In an embodied and situated perspective of cognition, imagination emerges as a product of this dynamic. This study aims to investigate whether acting practice enhances someone's abilities to set up an effective relationship with others and allows the individual to better manage not only the relationship itself, but also her/his own feelings and those of her/his partner. Eighty two healthy Italian adults, with no communication disorders, including 43 actors (Mage = 25.4; S.D. = 3.64) and 39 non-actors (Mage = 24.1 = S.D. = 4.17) completed a joint verbal production task named Random Sequence Generation (RSG) task. Initially, participants performed the task individually. Subsequently, in a second phase, they worked in pairs with another participant, taking turns to contribute to a shared sequence. Pairings were predetermined to ensure a balanced mix of actors and non-actors, and to prevent participants from having prior relationships. Following the task, subjects were queried about their sense of presence, and, their perception of entitativity with their partner. We observed a replication of previous studies, showing higher RSG scores and reduced repetition in the paired condition, indicative of coupling and synchronization behavior. Within pairs, the level of the sense of presence of both partners was positively correlated. Furthermore, an interaction effect between the sense of presence and acting experience on the perception of entitativity was observed. Specifically, actors described perceived entitativity with their partners when their sense of presence was heightened, whereas non-actors experienced a decrease in perceived entitativity with their partners under similar circumstances. We discuss the results and limitations of the study, suggesting the effect of artistic practice on the development of a sort of dual-task ability which enables actors to organize their sensations and actions while sustaining a meaningful connection with others. This research represents an interdisciplinary collaboration between theater studies and cognitive sciences, highlighting the value of a multidisciplinary approach to research.

Equating Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores: conversion norms from a healthy Italian population sample

This study aimed to provide equating norms for the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) from a sample of healthy Italian adults. Four-hundred and seven Italian healthy adults (165 males, 242 females; mean age = 60.61 ± 13.74years, range= 20-93; mean education = 12.2 ± 4.42years, range= 4-25) were administered the MMSE and the MoCA. 'MMSE-to-MoCA' and 'MoCA-to-MMSE' conversion tables were derived via log-linear smoothing equi-percentile equating (LSEE). Equivalence between empirical and conversion-derived scores was determined with a two one-sided test (TOST) procedure. Conversion-derived scores were statistically equivalent to empirical ones for both the MMSE (p = 0.948) and the MoCA (p = 0.437). The LSEE yielded impossible/unreliable conversion estimates for floor scores on both tests, whereas conversions for uppermost scores were highly consistent. The present data will help avoid inter-rater heterogeneity in cross-sectionally and longitudinally adopting either one of the two cognitive screeningtests, and to retrospective analyze data collected via either one test or the other.

Italian telephone-based Mini-Mental State Examination (Itel-MMSE): item-level psychometric properties.

BackgroundThe Italian telephone-based Mini-Mental State Examination (Itel-MMSE), despite being psychometrically sound, has shown relevant ceiling effects, which may negatively impact the interpretation of its scores. In address to overcome such an issue, this study aimed at providing item-level insights on the Itel-MMSE through Item Response Theory (IRT) analyses.MethodsFive-hundred and sixty-seven healthy Italian adults (227 males, 340 females; mean age: 51 ± 17 years, range 18–96; mean education: 13.31 ± 4.3 years). A two-parameter logistic IRT model was implemented to assess item discrimination and difficulty of the Itel-MMSE. Construct unidimensionality, statistical independence of items, and model and item fit were tested. Informativity levels were also assessed graphically.ResultsWith respect to the Itel-MMSE total score, ceiling effects were found in 92.7% of participants. Unidimensionality was violated; both model and item fit were poor; a few items showed statistical dependence. Both the whole test and its items proved to be scarcely informative, especially for medium-to-high levels of ability, except for attention and spatial orientation subtests, which consistently yielded the highest discriminative capability.DiscussionThe Itel-MMSE appears to be most informative in low-performing healthy individuals. However, the present findings should not lead practitioners to aprioristically equate ceiling effects/low informativity to clinical uselessness. Items assessing attention and, to a lesser extent, spatial orientation appear to be the most informative.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40520-021-02041-4.

Measuring Caloric Intake at the Population Level (NOTION): Protocol for an Experimental Study.

BackgroundThe monitoring of caloric intake is an important challenge for the maintenance of individual and public health. The instruments used so far for dietary monitoring (eg, food frequency questionnaires, food diaries, and telephone interviews) are inexpensive and easy to implement but show important inaccuracies. Alternative methods based on wearable devices and wrist accelerometers have been proposed, yet they have limited accuracy in predicting caloric intake because analytics are usually not well suited to manage the massive sets of data generated from these types of devices.ObjectiveThis study aims to develop an algorithm using recent advances in machine learning methodology, which provides a precise and stable estimate of caloric intake.MethodsThe study will capture four individual eating activities outside the home over 2 months. Twenty healthy Italian adults will be recruited from the University of Padova in Padova, Italy, with email, flyers, and website announcements. The eligibility requirements include age 18 to 66 years and no eating disorder history. Each participant will be randomized to one of two menus to be eaten on weekdays in a predefined cafeteria in Padova (northeastern Italy). Flows of raw data will be accessed and downloaded from the wearable devices given to study participants and associated with anthropometric and demographic characteristics of the user (with their written permission). These massive data flows will provide a detailed picture of real-life conditions and will be analyzed through an up-to-date machine learning approach with the aim to accurately predict the caloric contribution of individual eating activities. Gold standard evaluation of the energy content of eaten foods will be obtained using calorimetric assessments made at the Laboratory of Dietetics and Nutraceutical Research of the University of Padova.ResultsThe study will last 14 months from July 2017 with a final report by November 2018. Data collection will occur from October to December 2017. From this study, we expect to obtain a series of relevant data that, opportunely filtered, could allow the construction of a prototype algorithm able to estimate caloric intake through the recognition of food type and the number of bites. The algorithm should work in real time, be embedded in a wearable device, and able to match bite-related movements and the corresponding caloric intake with high accuracy.ConclusionsBuilding an automatic calculation method for caloric intake, independent on the black-box processing of the wearable devices marketed so far, has great potential both for clinical nutrition (eg, for assessing cardiovascular compliance or for the prevention of coronary heart disease through proper dietary control) and public health nutrition as a low-cost monitoring tool for eating habits of different segments of the population.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/12116

Cognitive functioning, subjective memory complaints and risky behaviour predict minor home injuries in elderly.

Home accidents are one of the major causes of death, particularly in older people, young children and women. The first aim of this study was to explore the role of subjective memory complaints, cognitive functioning and risky behaviour as predictors of home injuries occurred in a year in a sample of healthy Italian older adults. The second aim was to investigate the role of risky behaviour as a mediator in the relationship between subjective and objective cognitive functioning and home injuries. One hundred thirty-three community-dwelling older people from southern Italy were administered a battery of tests to evaluate cognitive functioning, subjective memory complaints, and risky behaviour during home activities. Risky behaviour was evaluated using the Domestic Behaviour Questionnaire, created specifically for this purpose. The number of home injuries was recorded for a year throughout monthly telephone interviews. A path analysis was performed to test the following model: cognitive functioning and subjective memory complaints directly influence risky behaviour and number of accidents over a year; risky behaviour mediates the impact of cognitive functioning and subjective memory on number of accidents over a year. Path analysis confirmed the model tested except the role of risky behaviour as a mediator between cognitive functioning and home accidents. Risky behaviour could represent a further risk factor in cognitively intact older adults with subjective memory complaints. The assessment of both cognition and behaviour in elderly can make a valuable contribution in preventing home accidents in elderly.

Development of a novel Italian speech-in-noise test using a roving-level adaptive method: adult population-based normative data.

SUMMARYIn recent years the increasing development of hearing devices has led to a critical analysis of the standard methods employed to evaluate hearing function. Being too far from reality, conventional investigation of hearing loss based on pure-tone threshold audiometry and on mono/disyllabic word lists, presented in quiet conditions, has been shown to be inadequate. A speech-in-noise test using a roving-level adaptive method employs target and competing signals varying in level in order to reproduce everyday life speaking conditions and explore a more complete sound range. Up to now, only few roving-level adaptive tests have been published in the literature. We conducted a rovinglevel adaptive test in healthy Italian adults to produce new normative data on a language of Latin origin.

Normative data for Lezak’s Tinkertoy test in healthy Italian adults

The Tinkertoy test is a tool for the neuropsychological assessment of executive functions and a predictor of employability. Originally a children’s toy comprising pieces to assemble freely, the TinkerToy Test examines organizational abilities, planning, and response flexibility. It allows subjects to use their own initiative and does not force them to choose from a series of predetermined alternatives. Tinkertoy test normative values were collected from 256 neurologically healthy Italian subjects. Multivariable analysis showed sex and education to have significant confounding effects. Adjusted and inferential cut-off points were determined and converted into equivalent scores, applying a distribution-free technique.

Abdominal adiposity by ultrasonography: A “pocket” database for reference standard in Italian people

AimsTo provide a reference standard database of ultrasonographic parameters of abdominal adiposity in healthy people. MethodsItalian non-obese volunteers among blood donors were enrolled in 5 age bands (from 18 to 70 year-old) to reach the threshold of 25 males and 25 females per single band (total: 250). All subjects were measured for weight, height and waist circumference and underwent ultrasonography (US) by an expert radiologist for the assessment of several abdominal fat thicknesses (minimum and maximum subcutaneous fat thickness, maximum preperitoneal fat thickness, intrabdominal fat thickness, aorto-mesenteric thickness, and mesenteric fat thickness). In addition, US data were normalized per waist circumference. ResultsFrom 30s to 50s no statistically significant differences were achieved between males and females for the adiposity markers of visceral fat, while a relevant divergence was proved from 60s to 70s. During ageing a marked increase of the visceral fat compartment was observed in males, while only the preperitoneal circumference was significantly modified in females. ConclusionsThis paper reports on US parameters of abdominal adiposity of healthy Italian adults, to be used as a reference for daily clinical practice. Data could be also considered as control group for future investigations on physiology, pathological conditions, and differences between countries.

How to assess abstract conceptual knowledge: construction, standardization and validation of a new battery of semantic memory tests

The neuropsychological investigation of semantic memory has mainly focused on concrete concepts, while abstract concepts have been relatively neglected. We describe a new battery for assessing abstract concepts in brain-damaged patients. The battery includes three different tests: an association task, a multiplechoice naming-to-description task and a sentence completion task. The three tasks are based on the same 40 stimuli belonging to different categories of abstract concepts and they are tightly controlled for variables that can account for quantitative differences between abstract concepts (i.e. concreteness, imageability, context availability, familiarity, age of acquisition, mode of acquisition, emotional valence and arousal). The three tasks showed high reliability. Normative data were collected from 108 healthy Italian adults. To assess its sensitivity, the battery was administered to 13 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease who performed worse than matched controls. Significant correlations were also found between the tests and other semantic memory tests, supporting the validity of the battery.

Prevalence of Sarcopenia Based on Different Diagnostic Criteria Using DEXA and Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Reference Values in an Italian Population Aged 20 to 80

To identify the mean values and percentiles for ASMM (appendicular skeletal muscle mass) and the prevalence of sarcopenia, in terms of muscle mass reduction, using different cutoffs in a European population. A retrospective analysis on the dataset from a multicenter study on apparently healthy Italian adults conducted between 1999 and 2002. A significant muscle mass loss, necessary to diagnose sarcopenia, was defined in 3 different ways: (1) by subtracting 2 SDs from the mean ASMM index (ASMMI) of a young adult population (20-39 year-olds), as in the Rosetta study and the NHANES survey; (2) by calculating the 15th percentile of the distribution of our young population, corresponding to about 1 SD below the mean ASMMI; (3) by calculating the 20th percentile of the distribution of the ASMMI (as in the Health ABC study) of an elderly population. Five centers for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in various parts of the country (Padova, Verona, Parma, Roma, Napoli). Participants were 1535 volunteers (1208 women and 327 men) aged 20 to 80 years, drawn from among staff members, university students, lay people contacted by word of mouth, and patients presenting spontaneously for osteoporosis screening. Body weight and height were measured for all participants. Body composition was assessed by DEXA, and the ASMMI was calculated as the ASMM divided by body height in meters squared. Both men's and women's lean mass in the arms and ASMM were highest in the young group and became lower in older age. In men, the ASMMI dropped gradually from age 20 to 29 to age 60 to 69, then remained stable in the oldest group. In women, the ASMMI gradually increased from age 20 to 29 to age 60 to 69, then dropped among the 70- to 80-year-olds. Based on the 15th percentile of the ASMMI for our young adult reference population, the cutoffs for sarcopenia were 7.59 kg/m(2) in men and 5.47 kg/m(2) in women; if the 20th percentile of the ASMMI in our elderly subjects (>65 years) was considered, the cutoffs were 7.64 kg/m(2) in men and 5.78 kg/m(2) in women. Applying the different diagnostic criteria to the those older than 65, the prevalence of sarcopenia ranged from 0% to about 20% in both genders. The 15th percentile (or 1 SD below the mean) of the ASMMI of our young adults, and the 20th percentile of this index for an elderly reference population proved more effective in identifying cases of sarcopenia than subtracting 2 SD from the mean ASMMI of a young adult population.

Trunk and Lower Limb Fat Mass Evaluated by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in a 20- to 80-Year-Old Healthy Italian Population

Background and Aims: Global fat mass distribution seems to correlate with different levels of cardio-metabolic risk; centrally distributed fat carries a high risk of cardiovascular disease, while lower limb adiposity may have a protective effect against insulin resistance. Reference data regarding body composition have already been published for the Italian population; the aim of this study was to add reference values for trunk and lower limb fat mass, and their ratio (TLR), developing percentile distributions for age brackets between 20 and 80 years. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted and 1,570 healthy Italian adults (1,241 females and 329 males) were selected. The regional fat mass, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry total body scan, was analyzed and the TLR was calculated. Results: In both genders we observed higher trunk fat mass values in older subjects against a smaller difference in BMI values. The leg fat mass was higher in old men, while it was similar in women at different ages. The TLR values in older subjects doubled those of younger subjects in both genders (62% in males and 71% in females). Conclusions: The identified ranges for trunk, leg fat mass, and TLR may be used as reference values to describe the global fat mass distribution in healthy individuals and to identify states of altered body fat distribution.

Limb fat-free mass and fat mass reference values by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in a 20–80 year-old italian population

To establish reference values for limb composition, fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) in Italian adults for gender-specific age brackets 20-80 years old and to assess age-related regional changes in body composition. A multicenter, retrospective study was conducted on 1571 healthy subjects, 1240 women and 331 men. Regional FFM and FM were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. FM was expressed as % of limb weight. FFM in men diminished with age in both arms and legs, with reference ranges (25th -75th percentile) of 3.8-4.6 kg and 10.4-12.2 kg, respectively for 20-29 year-olds, and 3.1-3.9 kg and 8.2-10.4 kg for 70-79 year-olds. Women's arm FFM remained stable with aging (reference values 1.7-2.2 kg), decreasing in their legs (6.2-7.2 kg for 20-29 year-olds, 5.5-6.5 kg for 70-79 year-olds). Limb FM% increased with age in both genders: the reference values were 9-15% (arms) and 12-21% (legs) for 20-29 year-old men, and 19-26% and 19-29%, respectively, for 70-79 year-olds; for women's arms, they were 25-36% for 20-29 year-olds and 36-48% for 70-79 year-olds, while their leg FM remained the same with aging, i.e. 32-40%. These data complete the published reference values for whole body composition, enabling physiological or pathological changes in limb composition to be identified in Caucasian populations living in the Mediterranean area.

Free and cued selective reminding test: an Italian normative study

The presence of episodic memory impairment is required for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia by all current diagnostic criteria. The new research criteria proposed by Dubois et al. (Lancet Neurol 6:734-746, 2007) require that the impairment should not improve significantly with cueing, recognition testing nor after the control of effective encoding. This is considered to be the core deficit of "prodromal Alzheimer's disease". The Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) is a memory test that allows in assessing these specific features of memory impairment. Here, we report normative data for an Italian version of the FCSRT. The test is based on the 12 pictorial stimuli, 6 belonging to the living domain, and 6 to the non-living domain. Six scores were derived from the performance of 227 healthy Italian adults, with age, sex and education homogenously distributed across subgroups: immediate free recall (IFR), immediate total recall (ITR), delayed-free recall (DFR), delayed total recall (DTR), Index of Sensitivity of Cueing (ISC), number of intrusions. In multiple regression analyses, age emerged as an influencing factor for both IFR and DFR, with older people obtaining lower scores. Education and gender appear to influence only IFR, with better performance by more educated subjects and females. Adjusted scores were used to determine inferential cutoff scores and to compute equivalent scores.

Sun exposure questionnaire predicts circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in Caucasian hospital workers in southern Italy

Introduction Recent sun exposure should correlate with circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] due to ultraviolet B (UVB)-catalyzed cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D. Methods A Sun Exposure Score was calculated for healthy adults using a recall questionnaire assessing daily Time in Sun (<5 min, 5–30 min, >30 min) and Skin Exposure (face/hands; face/hands and arms; face/hands and legs; and “bathing suit”) for 1 week in each of the winter and summer ( n = 47 and 23, respectively; n = 18 participated in both). Concentrations of 25(OH)D were measured by DiaSorin RIA on end-of-week sera. Results Mean serum 25(OH)D was higher in summer than winter (58.6 ± 16.5 nmol/L vs. 38.8 ± 29.0 nmol/L, respectively, P = 0.003 unpaired). The calculated Sun Exposure Score correlated strongly with serum 25(OH)D during summer (Spearman's rho = 0.59, P = 0.003); based on the Pearson coefficient of determination, summer Sun Exposure Score explained 38% of the variability in summer serum 25(OH)D. The Sun Exposure Score did not correlate with 25(OH)D in the winter (rho = 0.19, P = 0.210). The summer correlation was largely explained by the Time in Sun (rho = 0.58, P = 0.004) rather than area of Skin Exposed (rho = 0.10, P = 0.660). Although there was a correlation between winter and summer Sun Exposure Scores (rho = 0.63, P = 0.005), there was no summer vs. winter correlation in serum 25(OH)D (rho = 0.08, P = 0.76). Conclusion This simple 1-week sun exposure recall questionnaire predicted summer serum 25(OH)D concentrations, accounting for 38% of the variability in 25(OH)D among healthy Italian adults.

Recognition and naming of famous buildings: Italian normative data

Semantically unique items are concrete entities characterized by a unique cluster of semantic information. In this field, neuropsychology has always given more attention to faces than to other kind of stimuli. An important category that has been largely neglected so far is famous buildings. A total of 200 healthy Italian adults with age, sex and education homogenously distributed across subgroups were administered a famous buildings naming and recognition test, which assessed both visual and verbal modalities. The test was divided in seven sections; norms were calculated taking into account demographic variables such as age, sex and education. Multiple regression analyses showed that education influenced significantly the performance on all subtests; age had a significant effect for five subtests; sex for three subtests. Adjusted scores were used to determine inferential cutoff scores and to compute equivalent scores.

Colonic total and segmental transit times in healthy Italian adults

This study was done to determine colonic transit times in healthy Italian adults. Institutional review board approval and informed patient consent were obtained. Colonic segmental radiopaque markers were counted and transit times calculated in 36 healthy subjects studied using a technique involving daily radiopaque marker ingestion and single radiological visit, with oral administration of 8-10 ml of a thick barium paste as a colonic trace for the marker count. Two independent radiologists counted the marker twice. Observer agreement was assessed using comparison analysis. There was very good observer agreement for the segmental marker counts. The upper limit for colonic transit times was: 45.6 h in the colon as a whole, 31.2 h in the right colon, 19.2 h in the left colon and 16.8 h in the rectosigmoid. Colonic transit times were not gender-related. In healthy subjects, a barium trace affords optimal visibility of the different colonic segments, enabling accurate location of all markers and thus providing an anatomy-related, repeatable and reproducible fluoroscopic segmental marker count. We suggest that the reference values for normal colonic transit times could be adopted for Italian people irrespective of gender.

Fat-free mass and fat mass reference values by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in a 20–80 year-old Italian population

To establish reference values for fat-free mass (FFM), the FFM index (FFMI), fat mass (FM) and the FM index (FMI) in an Italian adult population, developing percentile distribution curves for age brackets between 20 and 80 years. A multicenter, retrospective study was conducted on a sample of 1866 healthy Italian adults, 1435 females and 431 males. FFM and FM were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. FFMI and FMI were calculated as the ratio of FFM and FM to height squared. The reference range for the FFMI (25-75th percentile) was similar in all age groups, i.e. 18.7-21 kg/m(2) in men and 14.9-17.2 kg/m(2) in women. In both genders, FM, the FMI and FM as a percentage of body weight (FM%) increased with age. The reference values for FM% in the two age brackets 20-29 and 60-69 were, respectively, 13-20% and 22.5-29.3% for men and 26.1-34.9%, 32.5-39.6% for women. These body composition ranges can be used by clinicians and nutritionists as reference values for a Caucasian population in the Mediterranean area when evaluating body composition variations occurring in aging, malnutrition and chronic diseases.

Sex Differences in Body Fat Parameters from the Early Reproductive to the Postreproductive Period of Life: A Multivariate Analysis

Sex diversity has been observed for many body parameters, and special attention has been paid to changes during puberty and menopause. In the present study we performed a multivariate analysis on several body fat parameters to obtain a synthetic overview of sex differences from the early reproductive period to the postreproductive period. The sample study is composed of 373 healthy Italian adults (294 females and 79 males). We have examined the amount of fat (in kilograms, as measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) in the left arm, left leg, left trunk hemisphere, right arm, right leg, and right trunk hemisphere, waist to hip ratio, and BMI. The sex differentiation from the early reproductive to the postreproductive period of life has been based on differences between the position of male and female centroids on the discriminant functions obtained for various periods of life. The difference between males and females increases suddenly after 20 years, reaching a maximum at 30 years. In the period between 30 and 40 years the difference decreases quickly, and after 40 years the difference is relatively small and remains practically constant. The fact that maximum sex differentiation coincides with age of best reproductive efficiency points to a relationship between the body parameters investigated and hormone production related to human reproduction.

Age-related Differences in the Production of Textual Descriptions

Narratives produced by 69 healthy Italian adults were analyzed for age-related changes of microlinguistic, macrolinguistic and informative aspects. The participants were divided into five age groups (20-24, 25-39, 40-59, 60-74, 75-84). One single-picture stimulus and two cartoon sequences were used to elicit three stories per subject. Age-related differences were found with respect to semantic paraphasias, paragrammatisms, syntactic complexity, degree of both local and global coherence, local coherence errors (like ambiguous referencing), and in the level of informativeness conveyed by the stories. The results showed some null effects of age, some effects with a sharp drop in performance in the oldest group, and several effects suggesting a gradual decrease in performance across age groups. No age differences were found with respect to phonological selection and noun-verb ratio. In the proportion of details vs. main themes, the results indicated a possibly better story construction ability in the middle aged (40-59) and young elderly (60-74) groups compared to the younger or the oldest group. Story-type (single picture vs. picture sequence) had a significant influence on some macrolinguistic and informativeness measures.