Normative data for New Zealand elders on the Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Graded Naming Test, and the Recognition Memory Test

The use of psychometric tests for diagnostic purposes in neuropsychological settings is dependent on the availability of appropriate norms for interpreting an individual's performance. Most psychometric measures have been developed and standardised on American or British populations and may not be applicable to individuals or groups from other cultural backgrounds. Although there has been an increase in the development of overseas norms for elderly people, there is a notable lack of norms for elderly New Zealanders. Normative data, obtained from a community sample of 139 New Zealanders 70 to 90 years of age, are presented for the Recognition Memory Test, the Graded Naming Test, and the Controlled Oral Word Association Test. The correlations among the three tests are reported for the whole sample, and norms are presented for three different age bands. The relationship between declining functioning status, prior psychiatric disorder and cognitive functioning is evaluated as a possible indicator of cognitive decline. The impact of cognitive performance and intelligence is also considered.