Normative Data for a Neuropsychological Test Battery in the French Aging Population: 20-Year Follow-Up From the “PROgnostic OF Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events” Study

Abstract Objective The study aimed to present relevant norms for the evaluation of pathological aging in the French population over a 20-year period, utilizing the “PROgnostic OF cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events” test and questionnaire. Methods Three neuropsychological evaluations were administered over 20 years with 929 participants at the first cognitive evaluation (62–69 years old), 631 at the second (71–78 years old), and 293 at the third (81–88 years old). The tests and questionnaires were administered in the following order: McNair’s Cognitive Complaints Questionnaire, Depression Questionnaire of Pichot, Mini Mental State Examination, Free and Cued Selective Reminding test, Benton Visual Retention Test, Digit-Symbol Substitution Test of the WAIS-III, Trail Making Test, Stroop Test, Verbal Fluency, and the Similarities subtest of the WAIS-III. Results Normative data were presented at three time points of the repeated evaluation over 20 years (62–69 years, 71–78 years, and 81–88 years) and four educational levels (no diploma, primary school certificate, certificate of professional aptitude, and baccalaureate and above). The data showed a significant effect of educational level in all neuropsychological tests regardless of age. Gender primarily affected memory, Stroop scores, and Similarities scores. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of educational level and gender in the evaluation of the memory and executive function of elderly persons. Furthermore, the presented norms consider the self-report cognitive complaints and depression symptoms over a long period of life.