Comparing a visual and verbal semantic memory test on the effects of gender, age and education as assessed in a cognitively healthy sample

Abstract

Background Due to the increase of dementia diagnoses and individuals interested in monitoring their cognitive status, practical new neuropsychological tests are needed. Tablet-based tests offer a good alternative to traditional paper-pencil tests, as they can be completed remotely and independently. This study assessed two semantic memory tests (verbal and visual memory), in the scope of the creation of a new tablet-based battery-the International Neurocognitive Profil (INCP)-on the influences of demographic variables. Methods In all, 46 cognitively healthy participants who recruited at the memory clinic of the Medical University of Vienna were included in this study. They were asked to complete two tests of semantic memory and implicit learning: Capital Knowledge (CK) using verbal input and Flag Knowledge (FK) using visual input. Performance on the two tests was analysed according to influences of gender and age using two analyses of variance. Post hoc comparisons between age and gender groups were performed. In addition, correlational analyses were computed to assess strengths of association with age, gender and education. Results FK-and CK-based measures were found to be influenced by demographic variables with semantic memory measures being significantly influenced by gender and education while incidental memory measures were influenced by age. Performances differed

Protocol for the Development of a Computerized Battery for Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Assessment: The EMBRACED Project

“…The influence of gender could thus explain the significantly better scores found for the Spaniard group in the Word List task (see Table 4). In addition, higher education is related to better performance in memory tasks (Heidinger & Lehrner, 2020;Nyberg et al, 1996;Rodriguez et al, 2019), but the influence of this variable on memory scores has not been analyzed in our sample yet. Finally, different educational systems can stress on memory skills differently, and this could also account for the cultural differences, as Hispanics and non-Hispanics (who share their educational system) tended to show similar scores and those were different from the Spaniard group.…”

Visuoconstructional Abilities of Patients With Subjective Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease

“…The retention interval (30 minutes delay) was chosen according to established neuropsychological visual memory tests such as e.g., Rey Complex Figure Test and Recognition Trial, where a time delay of 30 minutes is also used. Both the copy and the delayed recall task were scored broadly 35 (maximum 98 points) by study staff that had clinical information about the patients. A transparent foil functioning as a template was used to facilitate and standardize scoring.…”