title: Test-retest norms and reliable change indices for the MicroCog Battery in a healthy community population over 50 years of age.
abstract: The increasing availability of computerized test batteries used to assess neuropsychological changes requires the availability of suitable test-retest normative data. Reliable change indices can then be used to evaluate significance of change in an individual's performance on retesting. We tested (N = 40) neurologically normal adults on three occasions (initially, two weeks, and three months) on the MicroCog: Assessment of Cognitive Functioning computerized testing instrument. Normative retest data are presented for two analytic techniques: the Reliable Change Index adjusted for practice and the Standardized Regression-Based technique. At two weeks, the correlation coefficients ranged from .49 to .84, with all scores demonstrating significant practice effects. At 3 months, coefficients ranged from .50 to .83, with all scores except Attention / Mental Control demonstrating significant practice compared to baseline. Regression equations were generated for all scores using age, sex, education level, and score at Time 1 as predictors. For all measures the only significant predictor was the Time 1 score. The reliable change indices and regression equations presented here can be used to determine the significance of change from predicted retest scores in a matched interventional cohort.
authors.affiliation: Queensland University of Technology, School of Life Sciences, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. p.raymond@tpg.com.au
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Anton D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hinton-Bayre
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radel
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Neville A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Marsh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors