Spanish Multicenter Normative Studies (NEURONORMA Project): methods and sample characteristics.
This paper describes the methods and sample characteristics of a series of Spanish normative studies (The NEURONORMA project). The primary objective of our research was to collect normative and psychometric information on a sample of people aged over 49 years. The normative information was based on a series of selected, but commonly used, neuropsychological tests covering attention, language, visuo-perceptual abilities, constructional tasks, memory, and executive functions. A sample of 356 community dwelling individuals was studied. Demographics, socio-cultural, and medical data were collected. Cognitive normality was validated via informants and a cognitive screening test. Norms were calculated for midpoint age groups. Effects of age, education, and sex were determined. The use of these norms should improve neuropsychological diagnostic accuracy in older Spanish subjects. These data may also be of considerable use for comparisons with other normative studies. Limitations of these normative data are also commented on.
Peña-Casanova
Jordi
J
Section of Behavioral Neurology and Dementias, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. jpcasanova@imas.imim.es
Blesa
Rafael
R
Aguilar
Miquel
M
Gramunt-Fombuena
Nina
N
Gómez-Ansón
Beatriz
B
Oliva
Rafael
R
Molinuevo
José Luis
JL
Robles
Alfredo
A
Barquero
María Sagrario
MS
Antúnez
Carmen
C
Martínez-Parra
Carlos
C
Frank-García
Anna
A
Fernández
Manuel
M
Alfonso
Verónica
V
Sol
Josep M
JM
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain