The clock-drawing test: normative data in adult and elderly Israeli Arabs

Aim: Despite the widespread use of the clock-drawing test (CDT), normative data and information regarding the influence of sociodemographic factors on test performance by adult and elderly Israeli Arabs are lacking. The current study aimed to establish normative data for this population group by exploring the impact of sociodemographic factors such as age, education, and gender on CDT performance. In addition, this study examined the association between CDT performance and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. Methods: The sample consisted of 295 community-dwelling healthy adult and elderly Israeli Arabs, aged 20-86 years, with a MMSE score >= 24. The MMSE and the CDT were administered to participants. Results: Statistical analyses revealed that age had a negative effect on CDT performance, which was most pronounced in the 60-86 age group, but education and occupation (academic vs non-academic) had a positive effect. Gender and place of residence (urban vs rural) had no effect. CDT performance predicted the MMSE score. Conclusions: The present study provides preliminary normative data on adult and elderly Israeli Arabs. The CDT appears to be applicable to Israeli Arabs, while the normative data might help interpret cognitive function results in this population.