A validation study of memory and executive functions indexes in French-speaking healthy young and older adults.
Medial temporal lobe (MTL)/memory and frontal lobe (FL)/executive functions indexes are used to measure changes related to cognitive aging. These indexes are based on composite scores of neuropsychological tests validated in English-speaking populations, and their use in aging research is growing in popularity. This study aimed at validating the MTL/memory and FL/executive functions indexes in French-speaking adults. Ninety-eight healthy participants (32 young and 66 older adults) were tested on eight neuropsychological tests, three associated with MTL/memory functions and five associated with FL/executive functions. Factor analysis indicated that residual scores independent of age and associated with MTL/memory functions grouped under one factor, and residual scores associated with FL/executive functions grouped under another factor. Bootstrapping analysis with 1,000 resamples confirmed stability for seven neuropsychological tests. This study provides the first validation of the MTL/memory and FL/executive functions composite scores in French-speaking adults, which may be used to assess cognitive changes in aging research.
Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal and Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal.
Alexandra
A
Fortin
Centre de recherche, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal and Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal.
Nicole
N
Caza
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003071:Cognition; D056344:Executive Function; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011792:Quebec