Age ⁃ related differences in HKU ⁃ AHMU neuropsychological assessment among healthy crowds

Abstract

Objective To explore age⁃related changes in cognitive function and establish a complete set of neuropsychological scales suitable for Chinese people. Methods From April 2018 to December 2020, a cross⁃sectional study and age stratified sampling method were used to recruit 496 healthy subjects in Hefei, Anhui and surrounding township communities, and grouped them according to age (each 10 years old as a group). A set of neuropsychological tests jointly established by the University of Hong Kong and Anhui Medical University (Battery for HKU⁃AHMU) was used to assess cognitive function. The complete set of scales covered attention and executive functions [including Digital Span Test (DST), Balloons Tests (BT), Digital Vigilance Test (DVT), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Color Trail Test (CTT) and Stroop Color⁃Word Test (SCWT)], memory function [including Chinese Rey Auditory⁃Verbal Learning Test (C⁃RAVLT) and Ruff Light Trail Learning Test (RULIT)], visuospatical ability [including Hooper Visual Organization Test (HVOT) and Judgment of Line Orientation Test (JLOT)], frontal fluency [including Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) and Figure Fluency Test (FFT)] having 4 dimensions. Results Among groups, the score of DST⁃forward (H=134.423, P=0.000) and backward (H=178.474, P=0.000); the reaction times of BT⁃A (H=155.433, P=0.000) and BT⁃B (H=64.204, P=0.000); the reaction time (H=224.078, P=0.000) and errors number (H=92.227, P=0.000) of DVT; the score of SDMT writing (H=229.057, P=0.000) and oral (H=226.566, P=0.000); the reaction times of CTT⁃A (H=184.292, P=0.000) and CTT⁃B (H=194.624, P=0.000), the errors number of CTT⁃B (H=20.699, P=0.001); the reaction times of SCWT⁃spot (H=74.683, P=0.000), SCWT⁃word (H=116.839, P=0.000) and SCWT⁃color word (H=84.786, P=0.000), the errors number of SCWT⁃word (H=5.555, P=0.000) and SCWT⁃color word (H=12.188, P=0.000); the score of C⁃RAVLT⁃immediate recall (F=58.765, P=0.000), delayed recall (H=160.660, P=0.000) and recognitions (H=96.833, P=0.000); the number of RULIT⁃immediate recalls correct (H=104.902, P=0.000) and incorrect (H=86.966, P=0.000), the number of delayed recalls correct (H=115.839, P=0.000) and incorrect (H=124.834, P=0.000); the score of HVOT (F=12.186, P=0.000) and JLOT (H=48.597, P=0.000); the score of VFT⁃vegetable and fruit (H=32.565, P=0.000) and VFT⁃animal vocabulary (H=55.000, P=0.000); the score of FFT (F=64.207, P=0.000) were significantly different. The four cognitive domains of attention and executive functions, memory function, visuospatial ability, and frontal fluency decreases with age, especially in people over 40 years of age. Conclusions The neuropsychological tests adopted in the Battery for HKU⁃AHMU are applicable to the mainland population and shows age⁃related declines in cognitive function with increasing age.

Keywords

• battery for hku ⁃ ahmu (not in mesh)
• neuropsychological tests
• cognition disorders
• age distribution
• cross⁃sectional studies