A new verbal learning and memory test for English- and Spanish-speaking older people

Abstract

Word-list verbal learning and memory tests with appropriate normative data can be highly sensitive to cognitive decline, but there are significant limitations of such tests available for use with older Hispanic and non-Hispanic people living in the US. The purpose of this study was to (1) create a new word-list learning and memory test in both English and Spanish and, (2) validate it with respect to sensitivity to cognitive impairment, and (3) develop statistical corrections for the effects of significant demographic variables, including ethnicity, language of administration, age, education, and gender. A community dwelling sample of 801 English-and Spanish-speaking older people was employed. Recall on learning trials and the delayed recall trial of the word-list learning test were strongly related to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), moderately related to age, and weakly related to gender and education. The relationship of word-list variables and the MMSE did not significantly differ across ethnicity0language groups. Regression coefficients for demographic variables were used in a statistical correction formula to adjust raw word-list scores, and then to develop specific percentile cut-off values. (JINS, 2001, 7, 544-555.)

Everyday functioning in relation to cognitive functioning and neuroimaging in community-dwelling Hispanic and Non-Hispanic older adults

“…Three different subgroups of SALSA participants who completed neuropsychological testing were included: (1) a 20% random sample of all SALSA participants (n = 280; Hisp-Span = 152 & Hisp-Eng = 128), (2) a group who met screening criteria for cognitive impairment in the SALSA survey (n = 336; Hisp-Span = 220 & Hisp-Eng = 116), and an additional group (n = 83; Hisp-Span = 80, Hisp-Eng = 3) who had normal cognitive screening results and were selected for testing as part of the ongoing development of the SENAS. Cognitive impairment at screening was defined as a score, statistically adjusted for the effects of age, education, gender, and language of test administration, on the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (Teng & Chui, 1987) or the delayedrecall trial of the Spanish and English Verbal Learning Test (González et al, 2001;Mungas et al, 2000) that fell below the 20th percentile of the overall normative sample (Mungas et al, 2000). Rationale and methods for statistical adjustment of test scores are presented elsewhere (González et al, 2001;Mungas et al, 2000).…”

“…Cognitive impairment at screening was defined as a score, statistically adjusted for the effects of age, education, gender, and language of test administration, on the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (Teng & Chui, 1987) or the delayedrecall trial of the Spanish and English Verbal Learning Test (González et al, 2001;Mungas et al, 2000) that fell below the 20th percentile of the overall normative sample (Mungas et al, 2000). Rationale and methods for statistical adjustment of test scores are presented elsewhere (González et al, 2001;Mungas et al, 2000). Neuropsychological testing was completed by 82.6% of SALSA participants referred for testing.…”

“…These scales were (1) Verbal Memory, (2) Object Naming, (3) Verbal Attention Span, (4) Verbal Conceptual Thinking, and (5) Pattern Recognition. The Verbal Memory measure was derived from the Spanish and English Verbal Learning Test (SEVLT; González et al, 2001), a component of the SENAS. The SEVLT uses a 15-word list that is presented for five learning trials in a standard word-list learning test format, followed by presentation of a distractor task, and then by free recall of the initial list.…”

“…Pattern Recognition is a match to sample task requiring the participant to identify the one design out of six choices that is an exact match to the sample. SENAS development and validation are described in detail elsewhere (González et al, 2001). Development occurred in two cycles and was based upon 200 English-and 200 Spanishspeaking older participants in phase 1, and independent samples of more than 500 per group in phase 2.…”

Degree of discrepancy between self and other‐reported everyday functioning by cognitive status: dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy elders

“…The goal of psychometric matching called for highly similar measurement properties of the English and Spanish versions of the same scale, but also for similar measurement properties of all scales within each language version. SENAS development and validation are described in detail elsewhere (Mungas et al, 2000;González et al, 2001; in press a, b).…”