Effects of socio-demographic variables on performance on the Cambridge neuropsychological automated tests for the assessment of dementia and Portuguese norms for older adults living in retirement homes

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effects of age, education, gender, computer experience, institutionalization time, and psychotropic drug use on performance on four tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) which are recommended for the assessment of dementia (Rapid Visual Information Processing [RVP], Paired Associates Learning [PAL], Spatial Working Memory [SWM], and Reaction Time [RTI]), and to provide norms for Portuguese older persons without neuropsychiatric diagnoses who are living in retirement homes. Method: The normative sample included 128 adults aged 69–96 years who had no neuropsychiatric diagnosis and who had lived in retirement homes for 3–232 months. The CANTAB was administered, at the latest, one week after a screening session that comprised an interview and the administration of pencil-and-paper tests. Results: The simultaneous multiple linear regression models were significant (p < .05) for all tests except the RTI five-choice movement time measure. The total variance explained by the socio-demographic variables was smaller for the CANTAB measures (4–14%) than for the pencil-and-paper tests (10–33%). Significant effects involving age or gender were observed for RVP, PAL, and SWM. A marginally significant computer experience effect was found for the RTI simple movement time measure. We additionally observed significant effects of education, age, gender, and computer experience on several pencil-and-paper tests. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that different socio-demographic variables influence distinct tests and measures of the same test, and that the associations between computer experience and several pencil-and-paper tests may be mediated by possible cognitive skills developed through computer use.

Keywords:

• CANTAB
• age
• computer experience
• normative data
• institutionalized older persons

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all of the Principals of the following institutions where this study was conducted for their permission to perform the study: José de Mello Residências e Serviços [José de Mello Residences and Services], Centro de Apoio Social de Oeiras do Instituto de Acção Social das Forças Armadas [Oeiras Social Support Centre of the Armed Forces’ Social Welfare Institute], Casa dos Professores de Carcavelos da Associação de Solidariedade Social dos Professores [Carcavelos House of Teachers of Teachers’ Social Solidarity Association], Residência Assistida da Delegação da Costa do Estoril da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa [Costa do Estoril Residential Home of the Portuguese Red Cross], and Inválidos do Comércio Residências e Lares [Invalids of Commerce Residences and Nursing Homes]. They would also like to thank all of the professionals at these institutions for their invaluable assistance in recruiting older volunteers and responding to the interviews for formal caregivers. Finally, the authors would like to express particular gratitude to all of the older volunteers who kindly participated and without whom this research could not have been conducted.