Regression‐based normative data for the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test in Norwegian and Swedish adults ages 40 to 80: Neuropsychology/early detection of cognitive decline with neuropsychological tests. (7th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Espenes, Jacob; Eliassen, Ingvild Vøllo; Fladby, Tormod; Eckerström, Marie; Wallin, Anders; Waterloo, Knut; Hessen, Erik; Kirsebom, Bjørn‐Eivind
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 16(2020)Supplement 6
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-12-07
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer Disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Démence; Maladie d'Alzheimer; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.83
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.044431
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Adequate memory assessment is important in neuropsychological evaluation of middle‐aged and older adults with suspected mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or Alzheimer's disease. The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) is a widely used measure of episodic verbal memory. To our knowledge, culturally adapted and demographically adjusted normative data for the RAVLT are currently not available for Scandinavian adults. The objective of this study was to develop regression‐based norms for the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) for Scandinavian adults aged 40 to 80 years. We also test the validity and demographic adjustment of these norms in a clinical sample of participants with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: Participants were cognitively normal healthy controls from the Norwegian Dementia Disease Initiation cohort (n=72), and the Swedish Gothenburg MCI study (n=124). Using a regression‐based norming procedure, we estimated effects of age, gender and years of education on RAVLT test scores. The newly developed norms were applied in an independent sample of adults with MCI (n=59) from the DDI cohort, and we compared performance between the two groups using independent t‐tests. Results: Lower age, female gender and more years of education predicted higher performance on the RAVLT. The norms successfully adjusted for the demographic variables in the MCI sample, and performance was significantly higher in the healthy control group (p<.001). Conclusion: We propose regression‐based norms the RAVLT adjusting for the effects of age, gender and education. The norms may be used for assessment of Norwegian and Swedish adults between the ages of 40 and 80 years, with between 6 and 22 years of education.