A - 05 An Exploratory Study of Race-Adjusted Normative Data in Former NFL Players

Abstract

Objective Recent debate regarding the use of race-adjusted normative data (RAND) in the neuropsychological evaluation of former National Football League (NFL) players has sparked intrigue. This pilot study explored the use of RAND in a community-based sample of cognitively normal Black and White NFL retirees. Methods Cognitively normal Black (n = 20) and White (n = 20) NFL retirees were selected to be similar in age and education from a larger community sample of retired athletes. All participants underwent consensus neurological diagnosis and standard tests of memory, executive functioning, and language. Five tests utilized Heaton RAND (TMT A and B; FAS, Animal fluency, BNT) and four used age-and education- adjusted manual norms (RCFT, CVLT-II, WAIS-IV Coding and Digit Span). Independent samples t-tests compared raw and normative scores between Black and White retirees. ANCOVA was also used that included estimated IQ and head-injury exposure. Results Raw score differences (p < 0.01) were observed between Black and White retirees on 3/9 tests (TMT B, BNT, Coding). No significant differences were noted between groups on TMT B and the BNT using Heaton RAND, and differences on TMT B and Coding were no longer significant after controlling for IQ. Head-injury exposure did not affect findings. Conclusions The use of RAND raises complex issues. In this pilot sample of Black and White NFL retirees of similar age and education, few differences were seen, and these were largely attenuated using specialized norms and/or adjustment for estimated global cognitive ability. Potential demographic and environmental influences on test scores require examination in similar populations.