Screening executive function and global cognition with the Nine-Card Sorting Test: healthy participant studies and ageing implications.
BACKGROUND
The Nine-Card Sorting Test provides valid and reliable scores when screening executive function, intelligence, and academic achievement. It is also useful for detecting cognitive impairment and dementia in the elderly and for assessing disease evolution and treatment effectiveness. It deals with three non-verbal sorting principles, individually and in pairs. The presence of risk in the ability to discover and organize visual logical stimuli is explored.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to describe performance on the Nine-Card Sorting Test in a non-clinical sample, to analyze the effect of demographic variables, and to propose suitable (i.e. the simplest and most homogeneous) cut-off points for possible deficits. Combinations in pairs (double arrays) were assessed (range: 0-3).


RESULTS
Significant effects of age and education were observed, but no interactions among the demographic variables were seen. Differences between the second and third levels of education and between men and women were not significant. The simplest cut-off points were as follows: (i) the median for people younger than 45 years old was 2, independent of educational level; (ii) the median for people older than 74 years old was 1, independent of educational level; and (iii) the median for people aged 45-74 years old was 1 for the first level of education and 2 for higher levels of education.


CONCLUSIONS
By considering both the statistical nature of the present dependent variable (number of completed categories) and the clear-cut performance of the different samples studied, this neuropsychological test can be defined as a categorical screening for executive function and global cognition. This is advantageous for reporting risk. Of the whole sample, the 25th percentile (score = 1) represented a valid index for possible deficits. Ageing questions are highlighted. The test is also fruitful for studies on visuospatial organization and its facilitatory and inhibitory mechanisms.
National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Cordoba, Argentina.|Institute of Humanities (IDH-CONICET), National University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina.|Service of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Cordoba Hospital, Cordoba, Argentina.
Nora Silvana
NS
Vigliecca
National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Cordoba, Argentina.|Institute of Cognitive Neurology (INECO) and Institute of Neuroscience, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Sandra
S
Baez
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001118:Argentina; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
cognitive ageing; fluid intelligence; frontal function; neuropsychology; norms; screening mental status